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Norwalk finance committee weighs budget cap as parents press to fully fund schools
Summary
At a Feb. 12 Finance and Claims meeting, Norwalk staff presented a tentative FY26–27 budget with a 7.4% overall increase and parents urged the committee to close a $6M Board of Education gap; committee members debated cap options (6%–8.17%) and the trade-offs to city services and fund balance.
The Norwalk City Finance and Claims Committee met Feb. 12 to consider the tentative FY26–27 budget and to hear public comment, with a major focus on school funding and the operating-cap level the committee will recommend to the Common Council.
Jared, presenting the budget highlights, told the committee the proposal would raise overall spending 7.4%, with a 10.72% increase on the city side and a 4% proposed increase for the Board of Education. He said employee benefits are rising materially (largely health care) and staff included a $3,000,000 salary lapse assumption "to hold taxes down as best as possible." The presentation noted investment income is down and reliance on fund balance would be reduced by $1,000,000.
Parents and residents used the public hearing to press the committee to increase school funding. Mandy…
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