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 was to reduce the BoE budget on the referendum by the grant amount now and then transfer the grant to the schools when the funds arrive in October; that approach yields an immediate mill-rate decrease for taxpayers but lowers the BoE's starting point for next year. The alternative is to leave budgets unchanged and recognize the grant as revenue, which proponents said would avoid creating a future shortfall for the schools.

Town counsel warned officials that the statute framing and state guidance were inconsistent across jurisdictions. "Statute says that the money has to be paid by October 31," the counsel said during the meeting, noting ambiguity in how the state guidance should be implemented by municipalities.

Board members were divided on which approach best balanced immediate tax relief against next-year fiscal risk. Several members argued the full reduction should be used now so voters see a lower mill rate; others cautioned that cutting the BoE now could force larger increases next year. Tracy Rapa moved to reduce the BoE budget by $476,454; the motion was seconded, put to a vote and declared carried by the chair. The transcript records at least one abstention during that vote.

After approving the reduction, the board voted to adopt a separate motion guaranteeing the transfer of the $476,454 to the BoE when it arrives in October 2026. The board then turned to town-side items: members approved eliminating the assistant assessor position, saving $60,002.81 (salary and benefits), and voted to add $114,457 in Pequot revenue to the town's revenue lines. With those moves, town staff reported combined budgets totaling $69,754,770 and a mill rate of about 28.64, which the board voted to forward to referendum.

What officials said: Town staff cautioned that the bill has produced inconsistent interpretations across municipalities and that guidance from state offices has been limited. Ann Marie told the board officials had consulted CCM and municipal attorneys and were receiving different readings: "Everybody's interpreting this bill differently," she said.

Public and board reaction: Board members and residents raised concern that the choice to reduce the BoE now could cause a sharper increase in the BoE starting point next year. One board member urged care in linking two separate decisions: what to cut now and how to treat the incoming grant. Public commenters warned that the decision could create a public-relations problem and urged clearer communication to voters ahead of the referendum.

Next steps: The budgets and the adjusted totals will appear on the upcoming referendum. The board committed, by motion, to transfer the state grant to the Board of Education when the funds arrive in October 2026. The board did not adopt a different approach after a later attempt to rescind the BoE reduction failed when the rescind lacked a second.