Madison Schools Budget Proposal: Here's What You Need To Know

MADISON, CT — The Madison Board of Education has approved a $61,850,694 budget for fiscal 2023-24, which represents a 2.65 percent increase.

According to the school district's website, here are the Major Operating Budget Guidelines:

• Review line items and reallocate funding, based on expenditure history, to fund priority needs.
• Include known costs, and project anticipated contractual settlements, associated with employee contracts.
• Align staffing profiles in accordance with enrollment projections, class size policy, state mandates and programmatic needs.
• Align per pupil core allocation funding levels for students based on projected Pre-K – 12 enrollments.
• Where possible, pre-purchase electricity and diesel fuel, while estimating pricing based on the natural gas market.
• Realize efficiencies in the following areas: energy conservation, preventative facilities maintenance, collaborative staffing arrangements with the Town of Madison, participate in purchasing consortiums.
• Prepare for new state guidelines and legislation
• Support and prepare for district reconfiguration to K-5/PreK-5
• Continue to provide the funding for special education services which are outlined in students’ individual education plan.
• Include health insurance funding projections

Efforts Funded

Academics - DHHS FabLab Instructional Supplies
Continuation of Advanced Placement Student Support Program (Year 2 of two-year pilot period)
Safety & Security - Continuation of Armed Security previously funded through a special appropriation
Maintenance - Increase annual maintenance funding by $50,000
Addition of Construction Manager (Funding split 50/50 with the Town)

Budget Challenges/Decreases

• 7 paraprofessional FTE Reduction due to unfilled positions and reduction in force – ($118,832)
• Decrease of approximately 2.6 teaching positions due to declining enrollment and completion of the curriculum writing schedule - ($211,325)
• Decrease in cost of the Early Retirement Program – ($64,534)
• Increase in health insurance costs due to a rise in claims experience – $751,365
• Decrease in debt service – ($544,730)
• Rising cost of electricity, trash and recycling, natural gas, and custodial supplies - $163,666