New Canaan council approves 2025–26 budget package and trims Board of Education operating budget by $150,000

The New Canaan Town Council on April 3 approved the town's fiscal year 2025'26 spending package and voted unanimously to reduce the Board of Education operating budget by $150,000, council members said.

Council members said the $150,000 reduction was a negotiated compromise intended to preserve the board's planned hires for two certified positions, described during the meeting as a math interventionist and a classroom coach. Council members repeatedly thanked Board of Education staff and the public for information and engagement during the multiweek budget review.

Christina Ross, reading the budget totals at the meeting, presented line-item figures and several council members moved the package through a series of motions that covered general fund operating expenditures, non-tax revenue, proposed fund-balance contributions, the amount to be raised by taxation and several enterprise and special funds. The council approved the property tax levy figure as read at the meeting, and council members said the package will be filed with the town clerk for publication and potential referendum procedures required by the town charter.

During discussion before the vote on the reduction, council members described lengthy review and rapid follow-up by education staff. Several members thanked Superintendent Dr. Lutze and "Hugo" (a Board of Education representative who was referenced during discussion) for supplying additional information in the days before the vote. Speakers described the process as collaborative and said they expected to work with the school administration earlier in next year's budget cycle to avoid last-minute negotiations.

Council members spoke to the tradeoffs that produced the $150,000 figure. At the microphone, one council member said the smaller reduction compared with an earlier proposal reflected new information supplied by education staff and allowed the town to keep the two certified positions identified in the discussion.

The council then voted. The motion to reduce the board's operating budget by $150,000 was seconded and passed unanimously. After that vote the council completed a sequence of additional votes to adopt specific fund totals and related motions; members voted uniformly in favor of the motions called on the floor.

Council chair and members closed the session by thanking staff and residents for public comment and involvement in the process, and several members urged earlier collaboration between the council and departments in future budget cycles.

The appropriation as adopted will be filed in the office of the town clerk and published in summary form as required by the town charter; the adoption becomes effective unless a valid petition for referendum is filed within charter timelines, council members said.