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Superintendent previews FY 2026 budget, tells member towns to prepare for minimum 4.5% increase
Summary
Superintendent Dr. Riley reported the district’s early FY26 budget work, telling member towns a level‑services estimate would require at least a 4.5% increase and signaling the district may ask for more to expand services; a multi‑year staffing plan and capital improvement summary will be presented at the Jan. 27 budget retreat.
Superintendent Dr. Riley provided a summary of the district’s early FY 2026 budget planning and outreach to member towns, reporting that administration’s initial estimate for a level‑services budget would require about a 4.5% increase and that the administration is assembling a multi‑year staffing plan and capital improvement priorities for the committee’s budget retreat on Jan. 27.
Riley said district leaders met with member‑town managers on Dec. 12 at the towns’ request and shared a model estimating what a level‑services budget would cost. He emphasized that he expects to recommend more than a level‑services budget if the committee approves additional investments to address long‑standing gaps: the district needs more supports for struggling learners (particularly at the elementary level), additional related‑arts/standards‑aligned prep time and infrastructure work on district‑owned buildings.
Administration said it is preparing a comprehensive five‑year staffing overview, school/department worksheets, a capital project summary for district‑owned facilities (noting the ECC roof replacement and an urgent auto‑body floor repair at the high school earlier in the year) and a prioritized list of recommended funding requests tied to the district’s strategic plan. Riley asked the committee for feedback on materials they want ahead of the Jan. 27 budget retreat and said administrators will continue to meet with town managers to provide early information for local budget planning.
Committee members asked for as much budget detail as possible in advance of the retreat because local finance committees seek early, conservative estimates to support their planning. Riley and administration noted the district’s assessment to each town depends on factors outside the committee’s control, including state Chapter 70 funding and the state’s foundation formula, and urged continued town‑district coordination. No formal committee action was taken at the meeting; administration will present detailed budget materials at the retreat.
