CFO warns Stamford schools face budget strain as ESSER funds end and special‑education costs surge

Ryan Feeley, the district chief financial officer, outlined the district's budget calendar and warned of a difficult budget season as one-time federal ESSER funds end and ongoing costs outpace likely municipal support.

"We were emerging from the ending of our ESSER dollars and into a fiscal cliff," Feeley said, describing special education costs that have increased "five or six times" typical inflation in some areas and projecting double‑digit health care cost increases. He said transportation, maintenance and other fixed costs are also rising and that the city's historical underfunding of facility repairs constrains options.

Feeley noted that the Alliance Grant currently funds 88 positions in the district but that the grant is projected to be flat next year; the district will have to decide how to reconcile wage and benefit increases for grant‑funded positions should funding not rise. The CFO explained the budget timeline: the superintendent's proposed budget will come to the board in mid‑January, the board has about six weeks to review and amend it, and then the request proceeds to the mayor and city finance bodies, where reductions often occur.

Feeley said the district's finances undergo state auditing each year (an "agreed upon procedures" review and a city‑level audit) and that the board receives monthly reports to avoid surprise shortfalls. He urged board members to be prepared for a multi‑month process of negotiation with the city and said staff will present options and tradeoffs as the process moves forward.

Board members asked about possible service reductions, school meals funding and contingency plans; Feeley said staff will present detailed budget scenarios and that many decisions will have tradeoffs for programs and staffing.

The retreat did not include final budget decisions; staff indicated they will return with detailed options during the regular budget committee schedule.