Bolton board approves transfer to cover special-education placement as referendum fight continues

The Bolton School District board on Monday approved a transfer to cover an unexpected special-education outplacement while staff outlined other budget developments, including a transportation contract that came in below projections and a failed second budget referendum.

Mr. Davies, a finance committee member, told the board the district's budget was roughly 83% expended through May 31 and that reclassifications and a transfer were needed to cover an unplanned special-education tuition cost for the remainder of the year. The transfer discussed was approximately $52,000 and the committee said it would be covered with savings from other tuition areas for this fiscal year.

Superintendent Caruso noted the district had finalized a transportation contract "and we finally put a bow on it today," saying the deal came in under projected budget and includes housing the buses in Bolton; new buses are expected in year three of the contract, which the administration said should raise future assessed value and related revenue for the town.

Caruso also reported the district's second budget referendum failed. Finance committee members said they had reduced the board events budget by $60,000 in response to that outcome. The superintendent said a third referendum is scheduled for Tuesday from noon to 8 p.m. and urged voter participation.

On water testing, Caruso said the district would be required to conduct PFAS testing and that the district had already arranged tests. He said one test at a district school returned no elevated levels and tests for the high school were pending; he cautioned that mitigation systems in other districts have cost tens of thousands of dollars.

The transfer motion was made and seconded and approved by voice vote. The board voted separately on the transportation contract and budgeting items as part of routine committee reporting and subsequent agenda actions.