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Health‑benefit spike and special‑education placements leave New Milford budget unbalanced, administrator warns
Summary
Business Administrator Stephanie told the board unpaid meal charges total $18,457.20 while health‑benefit costs rose by more than $1,000,000 this year; the district expects further increases and has not yet balanced the 2025–26 budget, in part because six students required costly out‑of‑district placements.
Business Administrator Stephanie told the board the district remains without a balanced 2025–26 budget and outlined the key pressures driving the shortfall.
Stephanie reported unpaid meal charges of $18,457.20 and said the food services account currently shows a surplus. "We send out monthly notices to families," she said, and encouraged those who might qualify to apply for free and reduced lunch.
She said the district's biggest near‑term pressure is health‑benefits inflation: "Such a large increase in the health benefits. That's over 1,000,000 dollars this year," she said, adding that planners should assume another double‑digit increase for 2025–26. The budget currently assumes flat state aid, but "the past two years we've received a reduction in state aid," she said, and that uncertainty contributes to the unbalanced projection.
Stephanie also described special‑education pressures: six students were placed out of district this year because their needs could not be met in‑district. She warned these placements carry high costs, noting an example figure that tuition for one placement "could be $100,000 for 1 student, not even including transportation." To contain costs and improve efficiency, she said the district is exploring transportation options including buying a van or additional vehicle and reviewing route configurations (many routes are triple‑tiered).
An auditor is scheduled to present the 2023–24 audit at the next regular meeting, Stephanie said, and staff will continue to meet on the budget. Board members did not take final budget actions at this session; staff flagged the issues for follow‑up in upcoming meetings.
The business administrator's report laid out the principal fiscal risks for the coming year and set the agenda for next week's audit presentation and continued budget work.
