Clinton council trims school budget by $500,000, sends $44.29M education budget to public hearing

The Clinton Town Council on May 18 voted unanimously to reduce the Board of Education budget by $500,000 and to recommend an education budget of $44,288,204 for fiscal year 2026–2027, sending the proposal to a public hearing scheduled for May 20, 2026.

Chairman Hank Teskey opened the special budget meeting at 5:00 p.m. The session recorded seven council members present: Carrie Allen, Dennis Donovan, Brian Roccapriore, Chris Passante, Chris Aniskovich and Jerry Dunn. Michelle Benivegna, the town manager, was listed as absent. Finance Director Robert Tait participated in the meeting.

During discussion, councilors said recent adjustments to the State of Connecticut budget increased anticipated state revenue for Clinton, a change they said will help lower the municipal mill rate. The meeting minutes do not include verbatim statements from participants.

Council member Carrie Allen moved to reduce the Board of Education budget by $500,000; Council member Chris Passante seconded the motion. The motion was approved unanimously (7–0).

Allen also moved, with Passante seconding, to increase recognized state grant revenue by $260,492 to reflect state budget adjustments; that motion likewise passed unanimously (7–0).

Council member Brian Roccapriore moved, with Passante seconding, that the Town Council recommend an Educational Budget for the fiscal year July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, in the amount of $44,288,204, including operations, debt service and capital expenditures, and send the recommended budget to a public hearing on May 20, 2026. The motion passed unanimously (7–0).

The council adjourned at 5:20 p.m. The public hearing on the recommended budgets is scheduled for May 20, 2026.