Regional school committee approves $30.07M FY2027 budget, clarifies SRO billing

The Southwick‑Tolland‑Granville Regional School Committee on March 30 approved the district's $30,065,869 fiscal year 2027 budget and ratified the operating and capital assessment ratios for Southwick, Tolland and Granville by voice votes of 6-0-0.

The committee also discussed how the district will account for two school resource officers. Chair Robert Stevenson said counsel advised that prior practice left Southwick effectively covering more than its intended share of SRO costs, including summer coverage, and described a new billing approach: "The cleanest way to do this is to have it the way it is in the budget right now, where both SROs are in the budget. We are going to be invoiced on a monthly or quarterly basis from the town of Southwick for the time on premise while they're here during the year." Stevenson said invoices will reflect an hourly rate based on salary plus benefits divided by annual hours and that the district will only pay for hours worked in schools and with students.

Nick, who read the assessment figures to the committee, presented the operating assessment ratios: Southwick 85.310%, Tolland 2.218% and Granville 12.472%; capital assessment ratios: Southwick 83.114%, Tolland 3.752% and Granville 13.134%. He also presented the line‑item assessments for transportation, discretionary charges, and district services; the totals presented were Southwick $15,467,200, Tolland $380,512 and Granville $2,336,393. The committee asked staff to ensure budget lines reflect the invoicing approach and acknowledged estimates may fluctuate with pending labor settlements.

The committee moved and passed the consent agenda, the assessment ratios and the full budget, each recorded as passing 6-0-0. The committee said towns will receive warrant articles and that any future change to SRO funding would require explicit warrant articles at town meetings so the public can review and respond.