Eastford board trims school budget proposal to 3.99% increase, votes to resubmit

The Eastford Board of Education voted on March 13, 2025, to submit a revised 2025-26 school budget of $4,794,179, a 3.99% increase over the 2024-25 budget, after administrators presented options to reduce an earlier 6.99% proposal without eliminating staff.

Superintendent Dr. Donna Leake said the Town asked the district to lower the budget and noted that multiple state mandates are placing pressure on small districts like Eastford. Board member Terry Cote pointed to declines in the town grand list and local revenue; Chair Stephen Bowen noted that changes to motor vehicle valuations are under review and may affect revenue timing. Board member Michael Bilica said he was disappointed with the financial direction the district is facing.

After reviewing budget-reduction options the administration presented a 3.99% scenario that, according to the Board packet, would lower the original increase while maintaining current staffing levels. The Board (motion by Cote, second by Bilica) approved the revised budget and authorized staff to resubmit it to the Board of Selectmen; the motion passed unanimously.

The action sends the revised spending plan and the district’s long-term capital improvement plan back to town officials for consideration in the municipal budget process. The Board did not adopt further program cuts at the meeting.

What happens next: The Board of Selectmen will consider the school budget along with other town spending priorities during the municipal budget review process; no specific Selectmen schedule was recorded in the minutes.