Darien finance committee forecasts $462,859 surplus after state adds $40 million for excess special-education costs

Rich, a district finance staff member, told the Darien Board of Education finance committee on March 20 that the district is showing a projected surplus of $462,859 through February 2025, an improvement of $510,557 from January. "We are showing the projected surplus now of 462,859," he said.

The committee heard that the improvement stems mostly from a state appropriation for excess special-education costs. Rich said the state passed a conditional $40,000,000 appropriation that added about $503,762 to Darien's forecast and raised the district's estimated excess-cost reimbursement rate to about 72.8% based on December 1 submissions. He cautioned that the rate could change when March 1 claims are finalized.

The district recorded its first reimbursement on the state claim—about $1,700,000—in February; Rich said the state typically pays the balance in May. He described the mechanics of receipt: the money is deposited by ACH into a shared town account and then recorded by the school district on the excess‑cost line item, followed by a town–board reconciliation.

Committee members asked how the statewide claims pool affects Darien’s rate. Rich explained the reimbursement model is sensitive to what other communities file: "Our…