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Branford officials outline $196 million elementary-school plan and say state would cover most costs
Summary
At the June 29 Board of Finance meeting, school and finance officials reviewed a master facilities plan that models two rebuilt elementary schools with an estimated combined cost of $196 million and estimated state reimbursement covering roughly 72% of eligible costs; town officials said the application for state funding must be filed by Oct. 1, 2026.
At its June 29 meeting at the Joe Trapasso Community House, the Branford Board of Finance received an update on the Branford Public Schools Master Facilities Plan, including a preliminary debt analysis showing an estimated total project cost of $196 million for two elementary projects and state legislation that, according to town staff, would reimburse roughly 72% of eligible school construction costs.
Superintendent Dr. Chris Tranberg, Construction Solutions Group Project Manager Samantha D'Agostino and Finance Director Kathryn LaBanca presented the feasibility work and schedule. LaBanca circulated a debt-analysis memo that ran a conservative “shock test” — higher construction costs, higher interest and a lower effective reimbursement rate for ineligible expenses — and reported that under those assumptions the modeled Year 1 principal and interest payment was about $6.175 million and the preliminary projected mill-rate impact was about +1.07. LaBanca emphasized the assumptions are preliminary and said the town must have local funding approval in place and submit a state application by Oct. 1, 2026 for projects to advance.
CSG and materials from architectural firm Tecton outlined options from the 2025 master plan that would optimize two elementary schools (Mary T. Murphy and Mary R. Tisko) rather than maintain three; the consultants presented facility-level cost estimates taken from the Master Plan and a timeline of tasks (educational specifications, site visits, cost estimates and grant-application materials) needed to meet the October grant deadline.
The slide materials and the finance memo stressed the model assumptions: an illustrative borrowing rate of 4.5% over 20 years, an assumed effective town share near 33% (about $65 million), and contingency for ineligible costs. The presenters said the projected state reimbursement increases materially reduce the town share compared with past formulas, and the presentation included references to recent legislation (Public Act 26-68 and related provisions in House Bill 8002) that the materials cite as the basis for increased reimbursement.
Dr. Tranberg told the board that Branford Public Schools are trying to reach the community through the district website and other communications so residents have as much information about scope and schedule as the planning work advances. Board members and RTM attendees asked procedural and timing questions; presenters said further refinements to scope, cost and schedule will be provided to the Board of Finance and the RTM before any financing decision.
Next steps: the working group and BOE will finalize educational specifications and cost estimates, the Board of Finance may be asked to approve funding authorization, and the town plans to submit required documents before the Oct. 1, 2026 grant-application deadline. Any local bond referendum, formal funding authorization or RTM approvals were not taken at this meeting and will be scheduled separately as project details are finalized.
