Cromwell School District proposes $40.5 million 2025–26 budget; board delays vote amid funding uncertainty

Cromwell School District officials presented a proposed 2025–26 budget of $40,516,219 — an increase of $2,225,975 (5.81%) — at a special school board meeting focused solely on the budget. Board members and administrators spent more than two hours reviewing line-item changes, program additions and revenue assumptions before agreeing to postpone a vote until the board’s next meeting.

The superintendent and finance staff said salaries and benefits are the primary drivers of the increase, together making up about 75% of the district’s spending. Finance presenters cited roughly $1.2 million in contractual salary increases and an approximately $330,000 increase for benefits as major cost components. “Our mission hasn’t changed. We wanna place our students first,” said Dr. Macri during the presentation, framing staffing and services as central to the proposal.

Why it matters: administrators warned that state and federal funding changes — particularly a drop in special-education reimbursement and a recent pause in federal grant disbursements referenced in the meeting — could materially alter the district’s outlook before the budget is finalized. Officials said they had budgeted conservatively for reimbursement and were continuing to monitor the Department of Education guidance and pending litigation referenced during the meeting.

Key numbers and drivers - Total proposed budget: $40,516,219; increase $2,225,975 (5.81%). - Salaries and benefits: about 75% of the total budget; contractual salary increases estimated at roughly $1,200,000. - Benefits: administrators reported a recent lock-in with the town and insurer Cigna at a 7% increase (revising an earlier projection near 17%), a change…