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Waterbury superintendent outlines priorities as state provides $14.8M in aid; board vets budget details
Summary
Superintendent Dr. Schwartz told the Board of Aldermen on May 18 that the state will provide $14.8 million in additional aid for Waterbury schools, and outlined spending priorities — special education, wages and transportation — and new initiatives including expanded robotics, trade programs and a Husky Prep Academy partnership with UConn.
The Waterbury Board of Aldermen held a department‑head budget session May 18 in which Superintendent Dr. Schwartz and budget staff described school funding needs, staffing levels and new initiatives after the state awarded $14.8 million in aid to the district.
Dr. Schwartz told aldermen the district’s Minimum Budget Requirement (MBR) under Connecticut General Statute 10‑262j uses $158,375,000 as a floor from the prior fiscal year. The district had requested $11.8 million in additional local funding driven by contract and wage increases, special education costs and transportation; he said the state provided $14.8 million — $3 million more than the board’s request. "That funding does not impact the the MBR for the city," Dr. Schwartz said, and the district will hold the aid in a separate account for auditing purposes per state guidance.
On operations and staffing, officials said the district budgets roughly 3,500 employees and serves about 18,300 students across 32 schools. Dr. Schwartz provided a preliminary estimate that opening a new early‑childhood school would add about $2 million a year in operating costs, primarily for staff. He described priorities including increased support for special education and multilingual learners, expanded robotics programs across all five high schools, and a planned Husky Prep Academy that would allow students to earn college credits in allied health through a UConn partnership.
Aldermen pressed on specific budget lines and controls. Sarah Gary, manager of budget development and oversight, said the budget office currently has two filled positions (budgeted for three) and monitors departmental budgets daily through the Lawson system and supporting spreadsheets. Mr. LeBlanc in finance responded to detailed questions about community contributions and sponsorship lines, explaining some amounts are membership fees while others are contributions or event sponsorships, and said the administration can provide breakdowns on request.
Long‑term fiscal risks: Finance staff told the board that rising health‑care costs — especially specialty drugs and provider rates — are the primary long‑term fiscal concern, with last year’s self‑insured plan costing about $121 million. Staff said changes requiring Medicare enrollment for retirees over 65 and other plan design adjustments have produced significant savings and that the city is budgeting contingencies related to anticipated labor contract increases.
What’s next: The Board of Aldermen will continue budget deliberations; the superintendent said the Board of Education will carry out line‑item reviews in finance committee meetings and workshops and report back to the aldermen as required.
