Finance director updates board on monthly expenditures and proposed special-education tuition increases
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Summary
Finance staff presented the monthly expenditure report showing operating budget lines, an Alliance Grant wind‑up and warnings that a flat governor’s budget could force future cuts; the board also reviewed a proposal to raise special‑education tuition rates charged to surrounding districts.
The board received a monthly operating budget update from Finance Director Doreen Viola and a proposal to increase special‑education tuition rates charged to surrounding towns for students attending Waterbury magnet schools.
Viola said the operating budget shown in the packet included salaries and major spending lines; she noted the district’s operating budget totals and said this fiscal year includes an Alliance Grant of approximately $87,000,000 that was part of a multi‑year phase‑in to address prior Education Cost Sharing (ECS) underfunding. Viola warned that the governor’s proposed budget included no further increase after the phase‑in and that, without an escalator, the district could face major reductions next year.
Viola told the board she would present monthly updates and that the district has constrained nonessential spending while monitoring attrition, class sizes and transportation costs. The superintendent said he and the district are preparing advocacy materials for the legislature and scheduled outreach to local legislators to press for ongoing funding adjustments.
On tuition, Wendy Johns of the business office said the district is notifying surrounding towns of intent to increase special‑education tuition rates for 2026–27 to reflect rising program and contract costs. Johns said formal memos will be sent following approval at a regular board meeting so partner districts can plan.
Board members asked clarifying questions about outplacement rates, transportation costs and where administrators had identified savings. Finance staff said outplacement rates remain relatively low for the district (~3% of special‑education students) compared with some peers and that purchase services and supply lines remain variable and monitored closely.