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

RIDGEFIELD, CT — The Ridgefield Board of Education’s Budget Finance Operating Committee reviewed the district’s fiscal year 2026 operating budget Thursday, flagging continued cost pressure in special education and electricity while reporting overall spending remains on track through January.

At its Feb. 5 meeting, the committee heard that approximately 97.8 percent of the district’s budget had been expended or obligated as of Jan. 31 — a level officials said is typical for this point in the fiscal year.

“No concerns to point out there,” said Jill Browne, the district’s director of finance, in presenting the monthly financial snapshot.

Special Education Volatility

The largest area of concern remains special education, where the projected deficit grew from about $170,000 in December to roughly $440,000 in January.

Brown said the increase reflects the inherent volatility of special education costs, which are driven by student needs, placements, transportation and services that can change during the year.

"We built it for the students that we have in District and the students that we know, and can estimate and predict what their costs will be," Browne said. "We don't know who's going to move into the community. We don't know if needs are going to change, or placements are going to change, or services are going to be added."

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Superintendent of Schools Susie De Silva said the district does not budget contingency funding for special education, meaning new or higher-need students typically require shifts from other budget lines.

“Students move in, not generally out,” Da Silva said. “When those students move in, we provide services.”

Brown noted that about $60,000 will return to the special education line after a purchase order for an outplacement service was recently closed, a change that occurred after the January snapshot was finalized.

Energy Costs, Solar Impact

Electricity costs also remain under close watch. Browne said the district is projecting about a $40,000 overage, driven by higher delivery rates and energy consumption.

The discrepancy is related in part to the solar units not yet being online at two schools, Browne explained. She added that even without the solar delay, electricity costs would likely exceed projections because rates are higher than anticipated when the budget was built.

"Sometimes we estimate very, very well. Sometimes those rates spin a little out of control. And that's what we've seen, actually, since this time last year, since last December," Browne said.

Da Silva added that some of the overage is associated with transfers to Farmingville Elementary School.

Medical Benefits Trending Toward Surplus

Browne reported improvement in the medical benefits line, where a projected deficit narrowed from about $2.3 million to $1.7 million as employee and retiree contributions were applied.

She said the district expects that line to end the year with a small surplus once all contributions are allocated.

“We do not anticipate a negative in that line,” Browne said.

Excess Cost Reimbursement

Committee members also discussed the state’s Excess Cost Reimbursement program, which helps districts offset extraordinary special education expenses.

Browne said the district is still expecting its first ECR payment at the end of February, with a second installment typically arriving in May. She cautioned that despite rising special education costs, Ridgefield is unlikely to receive additional reimbursement.

“It’s possible," she said, "but it’s not likely,” noting that reimbursement depends on statewide eligibility and a fixed funding pool.

Transfers and Policy Discussion

The committee reviewed several internal budget transfers, including:

• $26,701 moved within Ridgefield High School’s student life budget to pay stipends for musical and drama advisors who are not district employees.
• $8,000 transferred from a high school gas line to help cover electricity costs at Farmingville Elementary School.
• $5,933 shifted between facilities projects to replace an air handling unit.
• Smaller transfers to cover CPR training and professional memberships.

Browne also requested permission to add a proposed $38,000 transfer from a staff salary line to contracted services to cover a special education maternity leave. The committee agreed to forward that request to the full board for consideration.

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Committee members discussed streamlining how transfers are presented to the full Board of Education, suggesting that only transfers that are quantitatively significant or qualitatively impactful should require formal board action, with smaller items listed for information only.
Several members emphasized that facilities-related transfers, such as the air handling unit replacement, may warrant discussion even if the dollar amount is modest.

Gifts and Donations

The committee also acknowledged recent PTA donations, including funding for assemblies, staff appreciation events and student field trips at Branchville, Ridgefield High School and Ridgebury Elementary School.