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Berlin superintendent outlines 7.4% budget increase driven by reading mandate and special‑education costs
Summary
Superintendent presented a proposed 2025–26 budget showing a 7.4% increase largely tied to a $500,000 state‑mandated reading program, rising special‑education tuition and insurance/salary costs; administrators warned declining state and federal grants and exhausted ESSER funds shift costs to local taxpayers.
The Berlin Board of Education received a detailed presentation Jan. 13 on the proposed 2025–26 operating budget that would raise the district’s spending request by 7.4 percent, driven chiefly by a state‑mandated reading‑program implementation, special‑education costs and contractual salary and insurance increases.
"Our number is 7.4 percent," the superintendent told the board, saying roughly $500,000 of the increase stems from implementing the state reading program the board approved earlier in the meeting. Special education, which the presentation said accounts for about 24.2 percent of the district budget, and contractual salary step increases are other major drivers.
Special‑education staff told the board the program is a moving target: the district counted 416 students with individualized education programs (IEPs) on Oct. 1 and was serving 431 as of Jan. 1. Presenters outlined projected out‑of‑district tuition ranges roughly between $83,000 and $236,000 per student and transportation ranges of about $20,000 to $64,000 where needed. "At a minimum any student who's not educated in Berlin is $100,000," a district administrator said when describing low‑end tuition plus transportation.
The budget assumes a 3 percent negotiated increase for certified staff, continuing step advancements, a 10 percent insurance cost assumption and increases in contracted services and technology. District technology staff warned that device replacement cycles rely heavily on year‑end surplus funds because the district has not established a formal multi‑year replacement fund.
Presenters also flagged revenue pressures: federal ESSER/ARP pandemic funds have been exhausted, and Open Choice reimbursements and other state entitlements have trended down, the business office said. "If we get the 3.14 percent state average, we are still over one percentage point below what we need to maintain staff," the superintendent said, describing a roughly $600,000 gap to maintain current staffing at lower revenue scenarios.
Board members asked specific follow‑up questions and were reminded of a budget workshop next week and a retreat later this month; the superintendent asked members to submit questions by Thursday to compile answers for the workshop.
The presentation did not include final actions on the budget at this meeting; board discussion will continue at the workshop and subsequent meetings where the board may adjust line items or propose cuts to reach a final recommended figure for the town budget process.
