Milford Board of Finance opens public hearing on mayor and school district budgets; residents largely support schools

The Milford Board of Finance opened a public hearing Tuesday evening on the mayor's proposed 2025-26 budget and the Board of Education's 2025-26 budget, drawing several residents who largely voiced support for the school budget while pressing the board for fiscal scrutiny on specific programs.

The hearing, called at approximately 7:05 p.m., is the first public comment session on both budgets and will remain open during the next month, with departmental presentations and Board of Education testimony scheduled as part of the process. The Board of Finance invited members of the public to comment on either the mayor's or Board of Education's proposals.

Why it matters: The hearing is part of Milford City's annual budget review. Comments from residents highlighted competing priorities for taxpayers and students: supporters asked the board to preserve current educational services and staffing, while one speaker requested independent review of administrative efficiency and questioned per-student costs in a small alternative program.

Residents who spoke split mostly in favor of maintaining the proposed education funding. Andrew King, a Milford resident, told the board he was speaking both as a taxpayer and as a voice for other residents and urged a closer review of administrative efficiency. King said there was 'no review or study to identify efficiencies in the Board of Education's managerial structure'and urged the board to consider an independent review of managerial positions.

King also raised concerns about Milford Academy, the district's alternative education program: 'For the school year of 2025 to 2026, there were only 17 students enrolled. And based on my rough calculations, this is costing the city over $60,000 per student,' he said. He asked the Board of Finance to seek ways to make that program more cost-effective.

Other speakers defended the proposed Board of Education budget and the programs it supports. Carol Flannery, a Milford resident, said the board of education identified $645,218 in savings and that the 4.87% increase in the education budget is a 'maintenance budget, pure and simple' that addresses inflationary pressures and contractual obligations.

Sky Cornell, another resident and parent, said she had followed budget workshops and described the increases as largely unavoidable because of contract commitments, transportation and special education costs. Carolee Schultz, who said she watches meetings regularly, and Dan Thomas, a parent of three who spoke in favor of the budget, warned that cuts could set back student services that parents and educators have worked to restore since the pandemic. A resident who identified herself as Stephanie said reductions would harm students receiving special education and other supports.

The Board of Finance thanked speakers for their comments and recessed the public hearing for an immediate administrative vote to set the next meeting. A board member moved to reconvene the public hearing on Feb. 19 via Zoom at 5:30 p.m.; the motion was seconded by Miss McMann and carried.

The public hearing remains open for additional comments and for formal presentations from city departments and the Board of Education at subsequent meetings.