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Somers Board approves $305,811 reduction to FY2027 budget
Summary
At its April 2 special meeting the Somers Board of Education approved a $305,811 reduction to the FY2027 budget, citing lower-than-expected health insurance cost increases and staffing adjustments intended to minimize program and staff impacts. The revised total budget is $31,292,381, a 2.68% increase over the prior year.
The Somers Board of Education voted April 2 to reduce its FY2027 budget by $305,811, approving an adjusted spending plan that the board said would limit layoffs and preserve instructional programs. The motion, made by board member Kim Radziewicz and seconded by board member Derek Zelek, carried 6-0 with three members absent.
Board members said the reduction followed feedback from the Town Board of Finance and was achieved through a combination of updated cost estimates and staffing decisions. District administrators reported that an updated health insurance premium increase of 12.6% (revised down from an earlier estimate of 15%) accounts for approximately $163,000 of the savings. Additional reductions come from staffing adjustments, including not replacing a departing student support nurse (estimated savings of about $40,000), hiring a high school English language arts teacher at a lower step salary, and not replacing a retiring middle school ELA teacher.
The board reported the $305,811 cut represents roughly 1% of the district’s total budget. The revised FY2027 budget total is $31,292,381, an increase of 2.68% over the prior year (the original proposed increase before reductions was 3.68%). Board members emphasized that they sought to use natural attrition and updated cost data to reduce expenses while preserving student services.
The motion to approve the reduction was recorded as Yea: 6, Nay: 0; absent: Gina Olearczyk, Shane Manning, Dr. Ed DePeau. The board did not adopt additional program eliminations during the meeting. No further votes on FY2027 were scheduled in these minutes.
