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Norwich Board approves $100.42 million school budget for 2025–26
Summary
The Board approved a $100,420,901 operating budget for fiscal year 2025–26, a 4.95% increase from the prior year; board members voted unanimously in favor.
The Norwich Board of Education voted to approve a $100,420,901 operating budget for the 2025–26 school year, representing a 4.95% increase from the current year. The motion passed unanimously in a roll‑call vote recorded by the board.
Business Administrator Bob (business administrator) presented the budget summary and legislative context, saying the district expects an excess‑cost reimbursement from the state this year estimated at $479,205, which the administration said will help mitigate current‑year special education costs. Bob outlined key budget drivers: net tuition and special‑education costs, salaries, benefits, transportation, and utilities. He reported net tuition expense (after anticipated reimbursements) at approximately $38,552,000 — about 38% of the proposed operating budget — and a salary budget of $30,910,495 (about 30.8% of the total). Health insurance in the proposal reflected a 15% cost increase estimate and was budgeted at $6,127,291 (6.1% of the total).
The motion to approve the budget was made from the floor and seconded by board member Kevin Seitani. After brief discussion and a roll‑call, the board recorded the vote as unanimous.
Why it matters: the adopted budget is the board’s recommendation to the city manager and city council as the municipal budgeting process continues. The city manager will incorporate the education request into the citywide budget; the city council must appropriate a final budget by the statutory deadline in June.
Other budget notes recorded in the discussion: transportation costs were described as a major driver (roughly 11.2% of the budget) and the administration said it is pursuing route consolidations and vendor options to reduce costs. The administration also noted that out‑of‑district placements were down from the prior year (112 now, compared with 127 at the same point last year), which affects projected tuition expenses.
Votes at a glance: the board also took several additional formal votes during the meeting (see the separate meeting roundup for full list).
