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Darien finance committee flags $192,122 projected deficit; recommends two budget transfers
Summary
The Darien Board of Education finance committee reviewed December financials showing a $192,122 projected deficit driven largely by a fall in state excess-cost reimbursement for special education and recommended two transfers totaling $56,632 to cover program shortfalls.
The Darien Board of Education Finance Committee on Jan. 16 reviewed the district's financials through December and was told the district now projects a $192,122 deficit for the fiscal year.
Finance staff member Rich Bridal presented the report and said the primary driver is a lower-than-expected state excess-cost reimbursement for special education. "Excess cost is showing a 59.96% reimbursement, which is a loss of $287,307," Bridal said, noting the district had budgeted 70% and the administration is recommending a 65% assumption for next year.
Bridal walked the committee through other line-item changes: a positive $84,082 in tuition revenue after a student returned to the district; about $28,000 in special education paraprofessional salary savings; roughly $19,000 saved because of an instructional paraprofessional vacancy; and small savings in building substitutes and contracted occupational therapy. Overall, Bridal said, general-education cost centers were forecast at a $39,735 positive balance while special-education centers were forecast at a $231,857 deficit, primarily because of excess-cost reimbursement.
Committee members asked for clarifications about turnover savings and how pre-K (EOP) students with Individualized Education Programs are treated for tuition. Bridal explained that when a tuition-paying preschool student is later classified with an IEP, the student is no longer charged tuition from the classification date; the district is required to provide preschool services identified in the IEP.
After discussion the committee voted by consensus to recommend two budget transfers to the full board. The transfers are: $46,000 into RC24 (consultant services) to pay for a contracted Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) and $10,632 to cover a tuition shortfall in the ELP program. Bridal said the RBT contract is for one of the current paraprofessional needs while the district is hiring internally for another position.
The committee chair asked for agreement to forward the transfers to the full Board of Education; members responded in the affirmative.
The committee also discussed implications for next year—s budget, with Bridal advising that unless the state increases excess-cost funding or statewide claims decline, reimbursement rates may remain lower than recent budgets assumed.
Next steps: the committee recommended the two transfers at the next full-board meeting and asked staff to include the reimbursement-rate change in planning for the FY26 budget.
