Suffield Board approves revised FY2027 budget of $43.69 million

The Suffield Board of Education approved a revised fiscal year 2026–27 budget of $43,692,148 on March 16, 2026.

Chair Maureen Sattan moved and James Mol seconded an initial motion to adopt a budget; that motion was withdrawn after the board identified a misstatement in the dollar increase (MOTION #26-59). The board then moved a corrected motion (MOTION #26-60) to adopt the budget as presented. The minutes record the corrected amount of $43,692,148 and state this represents an increase of $1,666,220, or 3.96%, over the 2025–2026 Board of Education budget. The corrected motion passed 8-0-0.

Board discussion focused on measures to align the BOE budget with guidance from the Board of Finance, including anticipated savings from expanding the Education Staffing Solutions (ESS) program that could reduce outplacement tuition and transportation costs, updates to health insurance and pension assumptions, a staff replacement at a lower step following a resignation, reduced summer maintenance hours because of building closures, and reductions to bus monitor staffing and benefit adjustments. The board described some savings as speculative and said it would return to the Board of Finance if additional funding were required.

The Board of Education will formally present the budget to the Board of Finance on March 30, 2026. The minutes record the vote as 8-0-0; one member had left prior to votes recorded earlier in the meeting.