Vernon School Board Endorses $60.4 Million Education Budget Proposal

VERNON, CT — The Vernon Board of Education Monday night approved a $60.4 million budget for the 2024-25 fiscal year.

The bottom line of $60,479,063 represents a dollar increase of $2,611,187, or 4.51 percent. A few "minor" changes were made to the original proposal submitted by Vernon Superintendent of Schools Joseph Macary.

Macary said half of the increase went to increased health insurance costs. Payroll amounted to $36.3 million.

Here is a budget breakdown:

Salaries and Wages

• 2023-24 Final budget — $35,631,095
• 20024-25 Proposed Budget — $36,378,707
• Increase/Decrease — $747,613
• Percent Change — 2.1

Employee Benefits

• 2023-24 Final budget — $8,944,683
• 20024-25 Proposed Budget — $10,232,583
• Increase/Decrease — $1,287,900
• Percent Change — 14.4

Professional/Technical Services

• 2023-24 Final budget — $1,673,278
• 20024-25 Proposed Budget — $1,885,529
• Increase/Decrease — $212,251
• Percent Change — 12.7

Property Services

• 2023-24 Final budget — $1,879,360
• 20024-25 Proposed Budget — $1,928,258
• Increase/Decrease — $48,898
• Percent Change — 2.6

Other Purchased Services

• 2023-24 Final budget — $6,935,143
• 20024-25 Proposed Budget — $7,078,767
• Increase/Decrease — $143,624
• Percent Change — 2.1

Supplies and Materials

• 2023-24 Final budget — $1,711,361
• 20024-25 Proposed Budget — $1,709,732
• Increase/Decrease — (-) $1,629
• Percent Change — (-) 0.1

Capital Outlay

• 2023-24 Final budget — $692,956
• 20024-25 Proposed Budget — $915,488
• Increase/Decrease — $222,531
• Percent Change — $32.1 percent

Contingency

• 2023-24 Final budget — $400,000
• 20024-25 Proposed Budget — $350,000
• Increase/Decrease — (-) $50,000
• Percent Change — (-) 12.5

Total

• 2023-24 Final budget — $57,867,876
• 20024-25 Proposed Budget — $60,479,063
• Increase/Decrease — $2,611,187
• Percent Change — 4.51

The education budget now heads to the desk of Vernon Mayor Dan Champagne and then the Vernon Town Council.