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Waterbury reports FY25 positive ending and transfers $1.5 million to sinking fund; board flags overtime and staffing costs
Summary
The district presented an unaudited final expenditure report for fiscal year 2025 showing a positive close and transfers to the sinking fund totaling $1.5 million. Commissioners raised concerns about overtime spending (roughly $500,000) and vacancy trends; the superintendent reported 56 current vacancies and a 97% fill rate.
District finance staff presented the final (unaudited) expenditure report for fiscal year 2025 at the Sept. 4 Board of Education workshop and reported a positive year-end position.
The presenter said the district moved $1,400,000 into the sinking fund and an additional roughly $113,000, for a total transfer of about $1,500,000 to the board—s unallocated capital/sinking fund to support future building projects. Staff said aggressive cost containment during the year—especially in the second half, when the district worried ESSER funding extensions might be revoked—helped produce the positive outcome.
The report noted the district—s FY25 finances will change going forward because ESSER funds are expiring; staff cautioned that future budgets will look different without that ESSER support. The presenter also summarized other operating lines and an "Alliance" funding line item described in the report (transcript references an Alliance item at about $57.7 million as part of broader budget presentation context).
Commissioner Van Stone highlighted overtime spending as a notable concern. He combined two overtime lines and estimated roughly $500,000 in overtime expenditures and urged the district to consider hiring to reduce recurring overtime. Staff said some overages were sunk costs for the year but that keeping positive reserves allowed transfers to the sinking fund.
Superintendent Dr. Schwartz also provided staffing updates in the meeting: he said the district previously had several hundred vacancies (e.g., 244 in 2022) and that current vacancies have fallen to 56 total (53 certified teacher vacancies and 3 administration vacancies), yielding an approximate 97% fill rate. Staff said they will provide a fuller human-capital report with more detail in a future meeting.
Why it matters: The reported positive year-end position provides short-term breathing room for capital and operating planning, but commissioners flagged overtime and the end of ESSER funding as risks that could require budget adjustments and hiring strategy decisions.
What comes next: The district—s outside auditors are on site for audit work; staff will return with an audited report and a more detailed human-capital presentation in coming months.
