03/05/2026 FINANCE COMMITTEE Minutes (2)

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FINCOM-Regular Session March 5,2026 necessitate dedicated staff but stated that potential efficiencies would continue to be evaluated. The committee also discussed reserve funding levels and the need to maintain adequate reserves to address unforeseen expenses without requiring special town meetings. The Finance Committee will continue reviewing the budget and plans to discuss the potential override request at a future meeting. 2.Town Manager updates on other items 3.School Superintendent presents FY2027 School Budget The Superintendent, Dr. Michele Conners, presented information related to the school department budget and operational needs. Mónica de la Hoya, Finance Director, and Amy Benner, Director of Special Education, where also in attendance. Discussion included capital items previously identiﬁed through the town’s Capital Improvement Plan, including HVAC needs at school facilities. It was noted that the HVAC project had been identiﬁed during earlier budget planning processes. The Superintendent stated that ﬁre suppression needs have been identiﬁed more recently. The Special Education Director provided an overview of special education services and associated costs. It was explained that special education services are governed by federal and state law, requiring districts to provide appropriate services to students regardless of cost. Major expenses include specialized services, programming, and transportation. While grant funding supports some of these costs, the district is already utilizing all available funding sources. The committee discussed trends in special education enrollment. While the overall percentage of students receiving services has remained relatively steady, administrators noted that the complexity of student needs has increased in recent years, resulting in higher costs, particularly for specialized services and out-of-district placements. Administrators also emphasized that educating students within the district, when appropriate, is generally more cost e?ective. Members asked questions regarding the number of students receiving special education services and how those needs inﬂuence the proposed budget. School o?icials stated that the budget is developed based on current student needs and required services. Discussion also addressed the use of school choice funds. It was noted that school choice revenue has historically been used to support operational costs rather than capital projects. 3