Board finance staff presented the Waterbury Board of Education’s FY26 budget mitigation plan on June 5, saying a combination of funding moves, position freezes and line‑item reductions would close a multi‑million dollar shortfall. The mitigation package follows updated projections for utilities and transportation plus an increase in the state Alliance grant.

Doreen of the school business office told the board that combined gaps in the general fund and Alliance grant had reached about $4.9 million after upward adjustments to utility and transportation lines. The mitigation work targeted vacancies and non‑salaried items: about 13 vacant non‑certified positions would be frozen, several part‑time positions eliminated, some stipends and repurposed roles would be cut, and certain salaries would be moved temporarily to the Alliance grant. She also described savings negotiated on a curriculum contract (about $387,000 in year one) and identified other line‑by‑line reductions in instructional supplies and busing choices.

The presentation also cited transportation savings by shortening the school year from 181 to 180 days, producing an estimated bus cost reduction of roughly $305,737 for one year. Additional savings were described in propane and contracted services where bids came in lower than projected. According to the presentation, the district’s projected budget shortfall fell to about $560,003 after the proposed reductions, and Dr. Schwartz noted the governor’s recently adopted budget provided an additional Alliance grant increase of approximately $302,221 that was factored into closing the gap.

Commissioner Van Stone and other board members praised the finance team’s work but urged the finance committee to take a longer view of fixed costs such as salaries, insurance and bus contracts. Van Stone also requested that the committee examine recurring rental costs for program sites and the district’s longstanding annual payments to outside organizations (including a $250,000 payment to the Palace Theatre) and annual support to nonprofits such as Waterbury Promise, arguing those commitments should be reviewed as part of FY27 planning.

The board was told the mitigation plan retains contingencies and that the operating budget the board will vote on is the general fund transmittal request scheduled for the formal vote on June 18. The superintendent and finance staff offered to answer follow‑up questions and to provide more detail to the finance committee ahead of the full board vote.

Ending: The finance committee will continue work on longer‑term structural items and the full board is scheduled to vote on the operating budget transmittal on June 18.