Ellington To Vote On Fund For Unspent School Money

ELLINGTON, CT — Ellington voters will consider creating a fund to save unspent school money for future education expenses at a special town meeting Monday, Nov. 9.

A public hearing begins at 6 p.m. in the Nicholas J. DiCorleto, Jr. Meeting Hall at Town Hall, 55 Main St. The special town meeting will follow immediately to discuss and vote on the ordinance, according to the town’s meeting notice.

The proposed Unexpended Education Fund ordinance would establish a separate fund that carries money across fiscal years. Its stated purpose is to retain unused education funds “for use in subsequent fiscal years” to cover authorized education costs.

The school board could deposit some or all of the prior year’s operating surplus, up to 2 percent of that year’s budgeted education appropriation. ellington-ct.gov

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Connecticut law already permits school boards to carry over unused education money, subject to the 2 percent limit, with spending restricted to educational purposes and authorized by the school board. Ellington’s proposal would establish the local fund and its operating rules. Town Management

Under the proposal, the town finance officer would hold the money separately from the general fund. The Board of Education would control the fund and approve spending, which would remain subject to the town’s regular appropriation rules.

Investment earnings would stay in the fund. If the school board decided to close it, after consulting town officials, the remaining money would go to the town’s undesignated fund. ellington-ct.gov

The meeting notice invites interested parties to attend in person or through Zoom. Separate Zoom links and passcodes for the hearing and town meeting appear in the notice. Copies of the proposal are also available in the town clerk’s and first selectman’s offices.

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