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Bristol schools report $11 million operating deficit, outline $9.8M–$50M capital requests
Summary
The district’s finance committee reported an $11 million operating deficit driven primarily by special education tuition and transportation costs. The board approved a five‑year capital improvement plan that includes nearly $9.8 million in requests for the next fiscal year and a series of larger projects through 2029.
The Bristol Board of Education on Jan. 8 heard a finance committee update showing the district’s operating deficit at roughly $11 million, driven chiefly by special education tuition costs and rising transportation obligations.
Commissioner Tagriello, presenting the finance and operations report, said the district’s special education deficit alone was about $8.1 million and transportation was over its line by roughly $329,607. He told the board that state excess-cost reimbursement had been at approximately 72% in recent years, meaning the district received about $0.72 on the dollar for qualifying excess costs, which he said strained local taxpayers and the budget process.
Tagriello said the State Department of Education had informed the city that Bristol had underfunded its minimum budget requirement by $1.2 million; the Board of Finance later appropriated those funds in December. He said the district typically runs deficits in this part of the fiscal year until excess-cost and other reimbursements arrive, but that this year’s shortfall appeared larger and persistent. He urged residents to attend January budget workshops and contact city council members about school funding.
The board also discussed capital needs. Tagriello reviewed the five-year capital improvement plan he presented to the finance committee earlier that evening. Requests included $9.8 million for the coming fiscal year for projects such as theater alterations at both high schools and initial work on aging roof mechanicals at Bristol Central High School; additional roof and mechanicals work across multiple years was listed as: $30.2 million for 2026–27 phases, $50 million proposed for a Stafford School renovation in a later year, $30.5 million for staggered HVAC work at Chippens Hill and Havel, and $43 million for a future South Side School project. Tagriello cautioned those estimates are current-dollar figures and will change.
After discussion the board voted unanimously to add the capital improvement plan to the agenda and then to accept the CIP as proposed.
Board members also discussed special education enrollment and program costs in a separate pupil personnel presentation. The district reported special education enrollment at about 1,803 students as of Jan. 1, roughly 22% of students. Private placement counts rose from 113 on Dec. 1 to 118 on Jan. 1; three students who moved into the district in January required out-of-district placements. District staff said nursing costs associated with special education needs and additional paraeducator requirements had produced unanticipated costs, estimating nursing-related costs at about $500,000 during the period referenced.
The board voted to accept the capital plan and asked the superintendent and finance staff to continue refining budget materials ahead of the Board of Finance workshop Jan. 21.
