Norwalk schools face a potential $6M shortfall as mayor proposes smaller increase; special-education and health insurance cited as drivers

Norwalk's school finance staff told the Board of Education finance committee on Feb. 11 that the mayor's recommended budget leaves an estimated $6 million gap compared with the board's requested increase, and staff identified special‑education spending and health‑insurance costs as primary drivers of fiscal uncertainty for fiscal year 2026–27.

Finance staff said the Board of Education had tentatively approved a FY2026–27 base budget earlier (stated in the packet as $242,600,000). The mayor's recommended budget included an additional $4.5 million in the base, but proposed a 4% overall increase rather than the BOE's requested 6.5%. "The mayor's proposal has a 4% increase and not a 6.5%, which does leave a deficit of $6,000,000 in our request," the finance presenter said.

Staff summarized year‑to‑date operating results as of Jan. 31: "We're 58% from a time perspective of the year has elapsed. We've spent about 52% of our budget," the presenter said, noting that the timing of payroll cycles affects comparisons. The presenter said year‑to‑date special‑education spending was $19,400,000 on a $27,000,000 budget and that the district now anticipates total special‑education spending will exceed that budgeted amount by year end.

The presenter also described transfers into an internal service fund to cover benefits: about $20,000,000 has been transferred so far toward an annual plan of roughly $40,000,000 for the district's health‑insurance internal service fund. Staff said they are pressing insurers for earlier Cigna rate information; if Cigna rates rise above the estimated 15%, the gap the district must find could grow beyond $6 million.

Board members asked what cuts would look like to close the gap; staff said about 75% of the district budget covers personnel and benefits, leaving few non‑student‑facing positions to cut without affecting classrooms. Staff said they will model options, continue discussions with schools and ask the public to advocate as the budget process continues through the Board of Estimate and Taxation and Common Council review. A finance and claims public hearing on the mayor's recommended budget was scheduled for the following morning.

Next steps: staff will do deeper dives with schools, model reductions and return options to the board as the FY2026–27 budget process continues.