Finance committee forwards $95.76 million Cheshire school budget to full board

The Cheshire School District Finance Committee of the Whole voted unanimously to forward a proposed fiscal year 2025–26 budget of $95,756,450 to the full Board of Education, an increase of $6,213,841, or 6.94 percent, over the current year.

Doctor Harrigan, chair of the Finance Committee, called on district staff to present an updated recommendation. "The budget is a really fluid process," Doctor Solon said as he introduced the adjustments and the staff's Option B recommendation.

Why it matters: the proposal sets the spending level the town will consider during its budget process and includes both reductions and additions to respond to new insurance estimates and district priorities such as instructional coaching and a proposed secondary STEM coordinator.

Key details from the presentation and committee discussion

- Total and change: The motion before the committee was to submit a proposed FY2025–26 budget of $95,756,450, reflecting an increase of $6,213,841 (6.94%) over the current year. The Finance Committee voted unanimously to forward that proposal to the full board.

- Insurance: Operations staff reported new insurance estimates received the day of the meeting. "The estimate is about 7 to…