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School officials present budget update and weigh timing of adoption with town council
Summary
Superintendent Rick outlined a budget that reflects enrollment of 1,198 students, insurance-driven savings of $215,103 and a projected tax increase of about $630,674 (7.2%). The committee agreed to wait until May 4 to consider formal adoption to allow time for any late changes.
Superintendent Rick presented the district's updated budget figures and a proposed timeline for school-budget adoption.
Rick said the district enrollment is 1,198 students and reported that insurance resets produced about $215,103 in savings, which he split so only half would be used from unassigned funds. He said the total projected increase to taxes was $630,674, about a 7.2% change, and that the budget-to-budget dollar increase currently stood at $505,511 (2.4%).
The superintendent asked whether the committee preferred to adopt the budget at the district's April 27 workshop or wait to align with the town council's earlier adoption date on May 5. Committee members generally supported waiting until May 4 so the committee could consider any last-minute information. A member said the extra week would allow "better center where the council is," and another described the superintendent's split of savings as "a fair approach."
Committee members pressed for clarity about the change in the town council calendar and asked the superintendent to confirm the earlier adoption date. Rick said he would reach out to the town manager to confirm and noted the new town manager had just started.
The committee also discussed the district's use of fund balance and the tradeoffs between lowering taxes and preserving reserve funds for unexpected facility or operational needs. One member said recent events in other districts reinforced the need for a reserve "just in case" an emergency arose.
Next steps: the committee tentatively agreed to wait to act until May 4 to allow more time for council actions and any new cost information to materialize.
