Seymour residents press officials over 4.7% Board of Education budget request; officials cite contractual costs and grants

At a public hearing in Seymour that ran from 6:34 p.m. to 8:10 p.m., residents pressed town and education officials over a proposed 4.7% increase in the Board of Education budget, pressing for clearer breakdowns of where additional dollars would go and warning about the tax impact on seniors and other residents.

Chair Richard Demko opened the hearing and asked speakers to state their names and addresses for the record. "We will have about 2 to 2 and a half minute time limit," he said, and directed questions to department heads and board members.

Several residents asked for more accessible, plain-English budget summaries. "I feel like there could be extra transparency," said Josh Beaupre of Maple Street, asking for an online synopsis that explains whether increases will reach classrooms or town services. Laura Wilkins urged the district to seek long-term cost reductions and to consider modest activity fees for extracurriculars to help offset growing requests.

Board of Education members defended the request as student-focused. "Our board of ed budget centers around the students, and we have to pay the…