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Board of Finance debates raising Bristol School District funding to cover special-education shortfall
Summary
The Board of Finance on April 8 debated increasing the Bristol School District allocation by roughly $3 million beyond the district's $51 million request to address a recurring special-education deficit, a move that would raise the town's mill rate by about 2.8 mills if approved; no final vote was taken.
Chair Dave opened the workshop by saying the Board of Education has been repeatedly underfunded in special education and proposed increasing the BOE request above the $51,033,000 submitted by the school district to roughly $54,000,000 to cover a structural shortfall.
The proposal is intended to stop a cycle of year-end deficits, the chair said, noting special-education costs have trended up about 10% annually. "There's been a historical underfunding in the special ed," he said, arguing that a higher allocation now would reduce the chance the BOE returns midyear for emergency funds.
The mayor and other members said they understood the problem but warned that adding the money would push the town past its municipal spending cap and increase local property taxes. The mayor told the board she is "hoping" the state legislature will act on ECS funding before it adjourns, but said the timing is uncertain and the increase would place pressure on the mill rate and homeowner bills.
Special-education staff told the board the proposed numbers roughly match recent spending patterns. The district's special-education director said the 10% increase "meets typically where we have been spending," adding the projection does not account for every variable but should reduce the year-end gap.
Board members cited a recent CLA audit that flagged repeated underfunding of predictable special-education expenses and said a larger allocation could restore stability so city funds could be used for capital needs, equipment and sinking funds instead of covering recurring school deficits.
Finance staff showed the fiscal effect of the chair's recommendation: a total city budget near $258.7 million and a proposed mill rate of about 36.55, up roughly 2.8 mills from the current 33.75. Staff and members discussed taxpayer impacts for an average single-family home and the mechanics of motor-vehicle caps and transition grants that affect revenue.
No formal vote was taken. The board asked staff to provide a full budget packet and updated spreadsheets ahead of a follow-up meeting set for April 15 so members can reconcile projected special-education actuals, evaluate vacancy factors and confirm how any increase would interact with the state spending cap.
If the board adopts a higher BOE allocation, members noted penalties can apply to any amount over the cap: the town would receive reduced state reimbursement on the overage. The board asked the superintendent and finance staff to refine numbers and return with more detail at the next meeting.
