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Superintendent presents tentative FY27 school budget; Hinsdale taxpayers face 13.89% assessment increase
Summary
Superintendent Michael Henault presented a tentative FY27 school budget Feb. 5 that the district says trims an initial increase of over 9% to 4.9% overall but would raise the Hinsdale taxpayer assessment by 13.89%; committee members pressed district leaders on staffing and facility repairs.
Superintendent Michael Henault presented the school district's "Tentative" FY27 budget to the Finance Committee on Feb. 5, outlining reductions that the district says lowered an initial request of more than 9% to a 4.9% overall increase while leaving Hinsdale taxpayers with a projected 13.89% assessment increase.
The district reported that Chapter 70 state aid is growing this year at the lowest rate in recent memory and that statewide enrollment is down about 15%, though Hinsdale's local enrollment increased. Henault and Director of Finance Greg Boino distributed a handout explaining factors that will affect the final budget and said the district balanced reductions across several areas.
Those reductions include adjustments tied to teacher contracts, preschool programming, class sizes and staffing, kindergarten and school-choice impacts, paraprofessional positions and cuts in state transportation reimbursements. The presentation also said the district has eliminated the program that had provided every student a Chromebook.
The tentative budget includes funding for repairs at Kittredge School after staff reported water leaking into the gym that is damaging flooring and deferred painting. Henault described a temporary fix to stop the damage and said a more extensive repair is planned for the future.
Member Candy Galeucia questioned whether the district is "administrative top-heavy," citing positions such as a vice principal and a dean of students. Henault replied that those roles are necessary to meet mandates, to handle student due-process and safety requirements, and to manage student mental-health needs; he added that the central-office staff is small and that he, Assistant Superintendent Aaron Robb and Director of Finance Greg Boino work long hours.
Town Administrator Bob Graves told the committee that "with this increase, we will not be able to do things that we need to do for our Town," and urged more dialogue between town and schools after what he described as eight years of adversarial relations. Chairman Shaun Galliher echoed fiscal concerns, listing competing town needs such as police staffing, a new fire truck, highway staffing and water and sewer repairs.
Henault said district leaders would be willing to return for another meeting to continue the discussion. The committee did not take a formal vote on the budget at this session; further meetings and the town's budget schedule will guide next steps.
