Killingly Board of Education Budget Passes with 5.5% Tax Increase

Strategic Insights -

The town of Killingly passed its Board of Education budget, which includes a 5.5% tax increase, after a previous proposal failed in the town's first budget referendum last month. The $47.9 million school spending plan, combined with the $23.6 million general government budget, will total $71.5 million for the 2025-26 budget year. The budget includes plans for cuts to school staff and services, including reducing certified teaching positions, administrators, and non-certified positions.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Board of Education budget passed with 598 votes in favor and 404 opposed, with 995 out of 10,713 registered voters casting a ballot in the referendum, a turnout rate of 9.3%.
  • The budget includes a 5.5% tax increase, with the tax rate increasing from 20.32 to 21.45 mills, resulting in an increase of $226 for a home with an assessed value of $200,000, or roughly $18.83 a month.
  • The budget will require cuts to athletics, maintenance, transportation, technology, and school supply budgets, as well as the elimination of certified teaching positions, one administrator, and five non-certified positions.
  • Five full-year administrator positions will be reduced to 10 months, and the remaining 10 positions will be reduced through retirements and existing vacancies, resulting in layoffs for three people from the district.
  • The budget does not cover the district's contractual expenses for next year, potentially leading to increased class sizes, reduced or eliminated student intervention services, delayed responses to parent calls, reduced home sports games, delayed computer replacements, and postponed non-emergency repairs.

Statistics:

  • 10,713 registered voters in Killingly
  • 995 voters cast a ballot in the referendum (turnout rate of 9.3%)
  • 598 votes in favor of the budget
  • 404 votes opposed to the budget
  • 1.13 mill increase in tax rate
  • $226 increase in taxes for a home with an assessed value of $200,000
  • $18.83 monthly increase in taxes
  • $47.9 million school spending plan
  • $23.6 million general government budget
  • $71.5 million total town spending for the 2025-26 budget year

Sources:

  • a.cross@theday.com (The Day, 2025)
  • "Killingly Board of Education budget passes with 5.5% tax increase" (The Day, 2025)
  • www.theday.com (The Day, New London, Conn.)
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