Finance Board Says 'No' To Cash Request; Southington School Board Fixes Deficit Itself

SOUTHINGTON, CT — The Southington Board of Education voted unanimously at its last meeting to use money from its non-lapsing account to cover a projected $279,036 shortfall in the district's 2025-26 operating budget.

This came one day after the town's board of finance declined to provide additional funding.

The board of education approved the measure by a 7-0 roll-call vote during its last regular meeting on June 18.

Under the motion, the board authorized district administration to use funds from the district's non-lapsing account to eliminate the budget deficit before the close of the fiscal year, which was June 30.

Board Chair Zaya Oshana called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. Present were Robert Brown, Lisa Cammuso, Colleen Clark, Dawn Derynoski-Anastasio and Oshana.

Although Joseph Baczewski and Cecil Whitehead were absent from the meeting, both voted "yes" by a remote roll call. Terri Carmody and Sean Carson were absent.

The vote came after the Southington Board of Finance on June 17 rejected the school board's request for an additional appropriation to cover the projected deficit.

The finance board voted 0-5 against providing the requested funding and instead suggested the school board use available money in its non-lapsing account.

School officials told the finance board June 17 they were hoping to use that funding for program enhancements.

The school board had voted unanimously June 4 to seek the additional appropriation following a recommendation from its finance committee.

During the finance committee's June 2 meeting, Southington Schools Director of Business and Finance Jennifer Mellitt said the district was projecting a $279,036 operating budget shortfall as of June 2.

Mellitt said the final year-end financial picture remained uncertain because two payroll cycles were still outstanding and utility costs, including electricity and heating, could change before the fiscal year ended.

She also noted that some final invoices would not arrive until July.

District officials said anticipated revenues, including grant reimbursements, special education service reimbursements, Medicaid revenue, preschool tuition payments and Open Choice grant funding, were expected to reduce what otherwise would have been a larger operating deficit.

With the Southington Board of Finance declining to appropriate additional town funding, the Southington Board of Education's June 18 vote allows the district to use accumulated non-lapsing funds to balance the 2025-26 budget.

For the minutes of the June 17 Southington Board of Finance meeting, click on this link.

For the minutes of the June 18 Southington Board of Education meeting, click on this link.

From June 12: 'Southington Schools Report Budget Shortfall For Current Fiscal Year'