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Board approves appropriation of state education grant to Board of Education
Summary
After discussing accounting treatment and mill-rate effects, the Board of Finance voted 4–0 to appropriate the state's education grant to the Board of Education for FY2026–27; the exact grant figure in the transcript is reported inconsistently and is noted as unclear in the record.
The Southington Board of Finance voted unanimously to appropriate state education funds to the Board of Education for fiscal year 2026–27.
Chair Larry explained the sequence: the Board of Finance completed its recommended budget in April; the State later issued an education grant that Town Council applied in a way that temporarily reduced the town-funded Board of Education line and then planned for the Board of Finance to appropriate the state grant when it was received. "So in a moment, I'll ask for a motion to appropriate $8.33 $9.09 4 from the general fund to the board of ed," Chair Larry said (grant amount as read in the transcript is inconsistent). After discussion about whether the mill rate showed two favorable adjustments and whether members had had adequate opportunity to review, the board moved, seconded and approved the appropriation on a roll-call vote recorded as: Mister Lebenek — Yes; Mister Bridal — Yes; Missus Wade — Yes; Chair Larry — Yes. The motion passed 4–0.
Board members discussed accounting and transparency: one member asked whether finance staff and others had been aware of the adjustment before the mill-rate vote; Chair Larry said there had been email discussion and that, while the result looked like a double mill-rate benefit, he considered it an "oddity" of the accounting and proposed adding a "bridge" review in future mill‑rate setting meetings so the board can reconcile what it submitted to Town Council with what Town Council returned.
