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Milford superintendent presents $118.95M 2026–27 budget, flags $12M special-education increase and proposes armed school officers
Summary
Superintendent Dr. Kataya presented a $118,952,910 proposed budget for 2026–27 — a 4.328% increase — citing salaries and benefits (≈77%) and an estimated $12 million rise in special-education tuition as primary drivers. The plan includes 10 proposed armed school security officers, extended learning time for high school, and new literacy technology.
Dr. Kataya, superintendent of Milford Public Schools, presented the district’s proposed 2026–27 budget at the Jan. 12 meeting, saying the plan before the board totals $118,952,910 — a 4.328% increase from the current year.
The superintendent said salary and benefits account for roughly 77% of the budget and identified four primary cost drivers: the teachers’ contract (a projected $2.2 million increase in the first contract year), an estimated $12 million increase in special-education tuition, higher retiree health insurance costs (about $838,000), and roughly $4 million in additional utilities and maintenance costs. "We are a human capital–driven organization," she said, emphasizing that salaries and benefits dominate spending.
Why it matters: The special-education tuition estimate is the single largest asymmetric cost pressure in the proposal. Administration characterized the $12 million figure as an estimate — "somewhere here in January," the superintendent said — and noted student needs can change before next school year.
Major proposed investments and program changes
- School safety: The budget proposes 10 armed school security officers — one at each elementary school, one at the academy, plus a 10th lead/substitute officer to manage training and quality. The superintendent said the proposal would replace an existing unarmed guard at the academy with an armed officer.
- Extended learning: The administration proposes reinstating an extended learning day at the high school to support credit recovery and extra academic opportunities that administrators and teachers reported as well received during COVID grant–funded practice.
- Digital literacy tools: The budget requests new literacy and writing supports at elementary and middle levels (examples cited: Project Read AI and NoRedInk) intended as curricular supplements.
Facilities and efficiencies
The superintendent said long-range facilities work remains deferred and noted administration identified $1.7 million in efficiencies across budget lines. She asked the board to complete a long-range facilities plan (noting Perkins Eastman would participate in upcoming meetings) before reinvesting in deferred projects.
Board and administration context
Dr. Kataya framed the budget amid district accomplishments, citing seven schools of distinction and both high schools receiving College Board gold distinction in AP programming. She warned that repeated cuts to innovation and professional learning risk eroding gains: "The enterprise that does not innovate ages and declines," she said.
Next steps: The board will review the proposal in two workshops scheduled Jan. 14–15, with final discussion and potential adoption targeted for Jan. 21 (Jan. 22 reserved as a snow/extra date). Administration asked board members to submit written questions in advance so staff can prepare complete responses.
Provenance: Superintendent presentation and budget figures first introduced in discussion beginning at SEG 449 and summarized through SEG 1234.
