Milford Board of Finance hears $115.3 million school budget; transportation and special education drive increase

Milford — Officials from Milford Public Schools presented a proposed education budget of $115,304,923 to the Milford Board of Finance, saying the plan represents a 4.87% increase over the current year and is intended as a “maintenance” budget rather than a package of new programs.

Dr. Patay, superintendent, told the board that "the proposed form of education budget before you is a total of $115,304,923, which, demonstrates a 4.87% increase," and described the plan as focused on sustaining current services and the district’s four instructional cornerstones.

The budget presentation and subsequent questioning identified three primary cost drivers: salaries and benefits, a renegotiated transportation contract, and increasing special-education expenses. District presenters said salaries and benefits make up roughly three-quarters of the budget — 76.58% — and that salary-and-benefit increases account for about 2.68 percentage points of the total 4.87% rise.

Transportation: contract renewal and route data

A new transportation contract is the single-largest discrete line-item increase called out by staff. District staff said the first-year cost for the renewed contract — covering both regular and special-education runs — is about $1,400,000. Staff explained the district’s prior agreement was negotiated in 2020 during…