Special-education tuitions and transportation costs drive large budget increases, district officials say

Wallingford School District business staff told the Special Operations Committee that purchased services — particularly out-of-district special-education tuitions and transportation — are a major driver of the proposed budget increases.

Mr. Barone said purchased services (the 500 series) include heavy tuition costs for special education and magnet placements as well as rising transportation expenses; staff presented a roughly $761,000 increase in tuition-related accounts and a more-than-$1 million increase in transportation overall. Committee members and staff discussed the district’s excess-cost reimbursement from the state: staff said the district is eligible for an 84 percent reimbursement on qualifying excess-cost special-education spending but currently receives closer to 64 percent, producing a multi-hundred-thousand-dollar local shortfall. Committee members described the situation as an effective unfunded mandate and urged advocacy at the state level.

Barone and other staff said special-education tuitions include placements at regional magnet and specialized programs and that those contractual costs are largely outside local control. The transportation increase reflects higher vehicle rates, additional special-education routes (including extended-school-year transportation) and the winding down of temporary low-cost pandemic arrangements; staff said athletic transportation costs were reclassified into transportation as well. Committee members asked staff to circulate a template letter for public advocacy on excess-cost reimbursement; one committee member said a presentation on the state special-education task force recommendations was scheduled for the following week.

Ending: Staff said they would continue to press regional and state authorities for better reimbursement and would share a form letter to help parents and residents contact legislators; no formal action was taken at the meeting.