Ansonia Board approves 2025–26 school budget amid lower special‑education reimbursements

The Ansonia Board of Education unanimously approved the district’s 2025–26 school budget at its March 12 meeting, voting 5–0 to adopt the plan presented by administrators.

Board President Rich Bshara said the district faces rising costs for wages, benefits and special education and that state reimbursement for Excess Cost has dropped. “The reduced amount is a huge cut,” Bshara said, describing a change this year from the roughly 78% figure cited previously to about 60% currently being discussed by the state.

The vote follows an extended budget discussion in which School Business Administrator Mr. Marriott reported the district received a first installment of Excess Cost funds “of approximately $1.5 million,” which helped offset special‑education tuition this year; he said a second installment is expected to be slightly under $1 million. Administrators told the Board they plan to submit more than $3.5 million in Excess Cost claims for the coming year to the state.

Superintendent DiBacco described limited discretionary spending in the district’s proposed plan and said the budget could be increased by an additional $1 million but he would not ask taxpayers for that increase. Board members said they may present the budget to the city and noted the potential for a referendum if adjustments are required.

The motion to approve the 2025–26 budget passed 5–0, with President Rich Bshara, David Knapp, Beth LaBerge, Chris Phipps and Sharon Voroschak voting in favor. The Board emphasized that some figures remain contingent on final state reimbursement amounts and that the administration will continue efforts to reduce costs where possible.

The district’s next procedural steps are to present the approved budget figures to city officials and, if required by city procedures, proceed toward a referendum; administrators said they will update the Board as state reimbursement amounts are finalized.