Seymour board cuts $476,454 from school budget, vows to transfer state grant when paid

The Seymour Board of Finance voted Thursday to reduce the Board of Education (BoE) budget by $476,454 and to guarantee that the same amount will be transferred to the schools when the state grant arrives in October 2026. The board also approved town-side reductions and revenue adjustments that together produce a combined budget the board will send to referendum.

The cut to the BoE was framed as a way to lower the town mill rate immediately while complying with the state's guidance on the supplemental education money. Ann Marie, the town official invited to explain the measure, summarized what officials said they had learned about the legislation: "It's actually senate bill number 1, and I call it the ever changing senate bill," and described two implementation options presented to the board.

Why it matters: The grant was described by town staff as additional, one-time supplemental education funding for fiscal year 2027. One option presented…