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Board of Education reports midyear budget stability; registrar warns 7-day referendum schedule is too short
Summary
The Board of Education reported 31% of its budget spent to date and roughly $40,000 in anticipated savings from summer programming; registrar Sandra Pierrot told the finance committee that 7 days between referendums is insufficient and recommended at least 14 days to allow ballot printing, machine testing and public notice.
The Board of Education representative told the finance committee that as of Nov. 30 the school system had expended 31% of its fiscal-year budget and expects modest savings of about $40,000 from efficiencies in the extended summer (ESY) program and reduced transportation needs.
Schools staff also told the committee they are budgeting for a possible 17% increase in health-insurance costs for the 2027 budget process and that transportation contracts are out to bid.
The registrar, Sandra Pierrot, urged the committee and selectmen to plan referendum calendars with tax billing and registrar logistics in mind. She said the town's goal is to mail tax bills by June 30 and that to meet that deadline the mill rate needs adoption by June 15; she added that 7 days between referendum votes is "way too short," that testing voting tabulators requires party representatives and public notice, and that 14 days is preferred (12 days might be the lower bound under some schedules).
Committee members agreed to incorporate the registrar's calendar recommendations into the budget calendar and to advertise a "Coffee & Conversation" public outreach event in January to increase transparency and citizen engagement before budget hearings.
