The Board of Finance learned at its Tuesday night meeting that Botelle School will have to add an extra $53,800 to its 2027-2028 budget. School Superintendent Kevin Case told board members that the state Board of Education has not accepted the reason behind this year’s school budget being less than that approved in 2024-2025.
Under the state’s minimum budget requirement regulation, schools cannot budget less than in previous years. This year, the school’s budget was about $53,800 less because special education expenses decreased.
The state Department of Education typically notifies the town and enters into a dialogue to bring the town into compliance, allowing for potential budget increases to avoid penalties. It may withhold Education Cost Sharon funds in the second fiscal year following the MBR violation.
“The consequence is that we need to add [that sum] to the 2027-2028 budget,” he said, “or we could be penalized twice what we receive in Education Cost Sharing grants. We get about $55,000, so that would be $100,000.”
He said the state school board has now responded to his request for a meeting, which he expects to take place this week.
He also reported that the elevator at Botelle School has been repaired at a cost of about $58,000. Funds for the repair will be found by using $45,000 from school’s non-lapsing fund and culling another $13,000 from other line items.
He is also waiting to hear what the town might receive from the state’s District Repair and Improvement Project Program, which grants towns money for facility repairs and improvements, and may use some of that to offset the expense.
The Board of Finance also heard from First Selectman Henry Tirrell, who said he is looking at plow trucks. “Two of our trucks are almost 20 years old,” he said, “and are putting a strain on the maintenance line. A Freightliner truck that he got estimates for would cost “in excess of $270,000,” and other makes are expected to cost about the same.
He suggested several ways of financing a new vehicle, including capital reserve funds or using some of the $600,000 remaining since the town retired its pension plan.