Preston School District finance subcommittee previews 2025–26 budget, flags $1.17 million preliminary increase

Megan Gallant, chair of the Preston School District Board of Education Finance Subcommittee, opened a special meeting on Jan. 9, 2025, to begin the 2025–26 budget process and heard staff outline a preliminary $1.17 million increase in district spending.

The subcommittee’s director of finance, Cindy Varricchio, and Superintendent Dr. Roy Seitsinger said the figure on the current worksheet is an early estimate that will change during four weeks of upcoming budget workshops. Varricchio said the draft 2023–24 audit should be available next week and is expected to be filed by Jan. 31.

Why it matters: the early worksheet attributes much of the increase to fixed or hard-to-control costs, including special education placements set by sending districts, rising employee-benefit expenses and transportation needs. The subcommittee flagged cybersecurity spending as a continuing priority after a PowerSchool data breach earlier in the month.

Details from staff: Fiscal assistant Vicky Schwery told members the salaries line shows an increase of about $626,000 based on contractual obligations and census data; she characterized that sum as essentially fixed. Schwery said employee benefits are projected to rise roughly 11.9% and the district is working with its broker to seek rate reductions. Utilities were estimated to rise sharply—about 20% for electricity and 15% for propane—while administrative support was modeled with a 5% increase, driven in part by higher workers’ compensation costs.

Contracted services and transportation: Varricchio reported that the 'Contracted Services' budget line is currently over budget because the district contracted transportation services to cover an unstaffed position; that cost is being offset by reduced salary expenditures in the same budget. Seitsinger noted the district is maintaining an aging fleet and that the Capital Improvements request will include funds for new vans and buses.

Grants and curriculum: officials said COVID-era grant funds were used to smooth a potential fiscal cliff and will be exhausted in the coming year, but they do not expect a major operational impact. No new math or reading curriculum purchases are planned, because those materials were bought within the last two years.

Outlook and next steps: the worksheet shows a preliminary $1.17 million increase, but staff emphasized it is an evolving number. Varricchio said the town budget calendar has not been set and she expects the Board of Finance presentation to occur in mid-March. Seitsinger reminded members that the Board of Finance meeting on Jan. 16, 2025 will include a discussion of capital projects. Budget workshops over the next four weeks will refine projections and department requests.

Votes at a glance: The subcommittee approved the minutes of the Dec. 5, 2024 meeting (motion by Deborah Burke-Grabarek; second by Megan Gallant; unanimous) and approved the committee’s 2025–26 meeting dates (motion by Burke-Grabarek; second by Gallant; unanimous).

The meeting adjourned at 6:55 p.m.; the subcommittee’s next meeting is recorded as Jan. 16, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. at the PPMS Library.