Ellington board adopts $48,065,373 budget, a 2.89% increase

The Ellington Board of Education voted on Jan. 13 to adopt a fiscal-year budget of $48,065,373, an increase of $1,350,213, or 2.89 percent, over the current year. The adopted figure will be forwarded to the town (board of finance and other town bodies) for the next steps in the municipal budget process.

Board members said the administration provided supplemental information before the meeting showing additional budget changes. Trustees praised staff for trimming and rethinking some line items to keep the year-over-year increase below 3 percent. During discussion, Trustee Gary expressed concern about uncertainty in federal funding streams referenced in the proposed budget and asked whether district food services or other line items would be affected if federal funds were paused. District staff said the federal funds cited in the discussion are not expected to be affected by the short-term federal funding pause under consideration and that food services would continue to be funded.

A motion to adopt the budget was made and seconded; the board recorded that the motion carried. Members asked that the budget proceed to the town’s finance review and that the district monitor any potential federal funding changes and report back if circumstances change.

Ending

Board members instructed the administration to continue monitoring federal funding sources cited in the budget and to report any material changes to the board while the town’s review is under way.