Meriden BOE seeks $6.3M increase as officials warn $3.9M gap could force cuts, larger classes

Meriden's Board of Education presented its FY 2627 budget request to the City Council's Finance Committee on Monday, asking for a 4.59% increase — roughly $6.3 million — to cover rising salaries, health insurance, special-education tuitions, transportation and technology costs.

"We have 13 schools, 8 elementary, 3 middle, 2 high schools that serve over 8,300 students," Board president Dr. Steve O'Dowen told the committee, framing the request against the district's student demographics and needs. He noted Meriden's high rates of students of color and multilingual learners and that 78% of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals.

Why it matters: district leaders said the combination of increasing special-education placements and higher vendor costs has driven the request. Superintendent Benigni told the committee that special-education enrollment has risen to about 23% of students and that the district is absorbing unanticipated costs this year — including a $1.1 million increase tied to bringing additional students into the district's STARS program.

"This year alone, we have an increase to our STARS program of 36 students," Benigni said. He…