Tolland superintendent proposes nearly 10% budget increase, cites special-education and contractual costs

Walt Willett, the district superintendent, on Jan. 14 presented a proposed $48.09 million operating budget for fiscal 2027 that he said represents a 9.9% increase over the previous year and reflects “contractual obligations and cost drivers” that the district cannot avoid. “Approximately 70% of that increase is due to the contractual obligations and cost drivers,” Willett told the Board.

Willett said much of the discretionary room in the plan is limited: after accounting for required contractual increases (salaries, benefits, transportation) and the loss or reduction of some grants, the administration had roughly 2.9 percentage points of budget flexibility to allocate. He highlighted several cost pressures the board should expect: rising outplacement tuition for students with special needs, higher transportation costs…