Ridgefield Finance Board Questions School Budget, Cites Taxpayer Concerns

RIDGEFIELD, CT — The Board of Finance on March 25 pressed school officials on a proposed education budget increase, raising concerns about affordability, long-term sustainability and the impact on taxpayers.

The discussion followed the Board of Selectpersons’ nonbinding recommendation that the Board of Education reduce its budget request to align with a target that would keep the town’s mill rate increase below 4 percent.

Selectpersons cite taxpayer limits

First Selectperson Rudy Marconi said the recommendation was driven by concern over what residents can afford.

“We were looking at the mill rate and what we felt the public could support,” Marconi said. “Anything over four, four and a half percent would probably fail.”

Related: Ridgefield School Board Proposes $125.3M FY27 Budget, 4.62% Increase, On 6-3 Vote

Selectpersons said their target would require reducing the school budget increase to about 3.45 percent, to reach an estimated 3.97 percent tax increase.

Officials emphasized the recommendation was not based on a line-by-line review of the school budget, but rather a “mathematical calculation” tied to broader fiscal constraints.

Board members also cited economic pressures on residents, noting some households are struggling with rising costs.

"It's really important to think about taxbuyer burden," Board of Finance Chair Mike Rettger said. "The amount of people in Ridgefield who have come up to me and said, ‘I can’t afford it anymore!’"

Finance board scrutinizes spending trends

Finance board members questioned whether the district is doing enough to reassess existing spending rather than focusing primarily on new additions.

One member said the proposed increase, which exceeds 4 percent, stands out compared with past budgets and comes despite some cost reductions, including staffing changes and insurance adjustments.

“I just don’t feel like there was a big challenge to what are we doing in that $120 million,” Rettger said, referring to the overall school budget.

Related: 'Tough Conversation': Ridgefield BOE Debates Budget Options As Members Clash

Concerns were also raised about class sizes and staffing ratios, with questions about whether resources are being allocated efficiently across schools.

School officials defend budget drivers

Superintendent Susie Da Silva said the budget reflects a combination of contractual obligations, rising costs and increasing student needs, particularly in special education.

“There are variables that are pretty significant when you look at salaries and benefits,” Da Silva said.

She cited health insurance, transportation contracts and special education services as major cost drivers that are difficult to control locally.

Administrators said special education enrollment and student needs have grown significantly, requiring more intensive services and staffing.

The district has also expanded in-district programs to reduce reliance on out-of-district placements, which can be more costly.

Debate over long-term sustainability

Finance board members repeatedly returned to whether current spending trends are sustainable.

Officials noted that while some cost savings are achieved each year, they are often redirected to new or growing needs.

School leaders said they do review existing expenses annually and eliminate or reduce programs where possible, but emphasized that many costs are mandated or tied to student needs.

“We do not just add anything for the sake of adding,” Da Silva said.

Program offerings and identity at stake

Some board members cautioned that deeper cuts could affect the character of Ridgefield High School, particularly its wide range of course offerings.

“If we want to be a different high school, then we could cut a whole bunch of stuff,” BOE member Angela Rice said, calling such decisions "existential to some degree."

Surplus estimate remains uncertain

Finance officials also asked about a potential year-end surplus in the school budget to inform decisions on fund balance use.

Related: Budget Review: Ridgefield Schools Face Special Education, Energy Cost Pressures

Ridgefield Public Schools Director of Finance Jill Browne said the district expects a surplus between $150,000 and $400,000 but cautioned that the estimate is uncertain with several months left in the fiscal year.

“There’s still the volatility of special education … substitute coverage … and transportation,” Browne said.

Next steps

The Board of Finance is expected to continue deliberations as it finalizes a budget proposal, including decisions on fund balance use and potential adjustments to the education budget.

Board members said further discussions will focus on balancing fiscal constraints with maintaining educational quality.