Pawtucket schools could be staring down $10 million budget deficit by 2027

PAWTUCKET, R.I. (WLNE) — Pawtucket schools have predicted that the department will have an estimated $10 million deficit by 2027.

The city’s school committee met Tuesday to discuss these findings, and a financial consultant estimated the department to have $152 million in revenue with $162 million in expenses.

According to the Alvarez & Marsal Public Sector Services consultant, the disparity could equal approximately 100 full-time employee layoffs.

No layoffs are planned at this time.

The report from Alvarez and Marsal said that overspending is partly to blame for the potential shortfall.

Fewer available ESSER funds, money allotted for COVID aid relief and economic security, also factored in.

The financial woes of the department can be attributed to multiple other factors as well.

School committee members said Tuesday that balancing the budget should not come at the expense of teachers’ jobs.

“Layoffs are always the last resort, not the first idea on the table. We will analyze every possible scenario to avoid them and ensure that kids are being served,” said Omar Reyes, Chair of the Pawtucket School Committee.

“That includes reviewing non-personnel spending, tightening internal practices, but we need to preserve the beautiful culture of learning and service to our kids. We cannot afford to have teachers teach in classrooms at capacity and overburden their classrooms.”

ABC6 has reached out to the office of Pawtucket Mayor Donald Grebien for comment on this matter.