Submitted by RSD 17 Board of Education
(April 15, 2026) — On May 5, 2026, the Regional School District 17 Board of Education will present its 2026–2027 gross budget of $54,465,593 to voters in the towns of Haddam and Killingworth. This represents an increase of $3,116,804, or 6.07%. After accounting for revenue, grants, and fund balance, the towns will be assessed approximately $32,083,345 (60.2%) for Haddam and $21,211,248 (39.8%) for Killingworth.
It is important to note that this referendum covers the school district’s annual operating budget and is voted on each year by both towns. It is not related to the high school building project.
Voting will take place from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. at regular voting locations. Absentee ballots will be available from April 16, 2026 to May 4, 2026 at the Town Clerk’s offices in Haddam and Killingworth.
Factors Driving the Budget Increase
Major Expenses
- Certified Staff Salaries: $19,926,959
- Support Staff Salaries: $6,449,555
- Health Insurance: $7,964,524
- Transportation: $5,894,637
A More Detailed Explanation of the Budget Drivers
A critical factor in understanding this year’s budget is that many of the largest cost drivers are contractual obligations, which the district is actively managing within its available flexibility. Salaries are governed by multi-year collective bargaining agreements that set required wage increases.
- Health insurance costs are driven by regional claims experience and market conditions, resulting in significant premium increases beyond local control.
- Transportation costs are determined through vendor contracts and labor agreements, including recent union negotiations that significantly increased rates.
Together, these areas account for the majority of the budget and are influenced by external economic conditions, state requirements, and contractual obligations, limiting the district’s ability to reduce costs without affecting services.
Additionally, Connecticut education legislation and mandates continue to expand operational and compliance requirements. These mandates affect staffing, special education services, school climate initiatives, and reporting obligations, further constraining budget flexibility.
The majority of spending is tied to fixed or externally driven costs, leaving a relatively small portion of the budget available for discretionary adjustments.
Certified Staff Salaries
The proposed budget includes contractual salary increases for certified staff (educators holding required State of Connecticut certification for their assigned roles) of approximately $728,000. The adopted budget also reduces 6.2 FTE positions, generating approximately $455,400 in savings.
Support Staff (Non-Certified) Salaries
Support staff includes administrative support, paraeducators, custodial/maintenance workers, and substitutes, with paraeducators representing the largest group.
This year, wages were increased to address historically below-average pay, which had made it difficult to recruit and retain staff and led to greater reliance on contracted services.
The 2027 budget reduces noncertified staffing by 6.0 FTE positions. Additionally, 4.0 FTE paraprofessional positions will be converted from contracted services to district employees, resulting in an estimated savings of $70,000. The increase in the support staff budget reflects both updated wage schedules and staffing levels needed to meet student needs. You may also notice an increase in the professional services line, which was underbudgeted in previous years.
Health Insurance
In July 2023, the district joined a regional, self-insured insurance cooperative. In recent years, total claims have exceeded member premiums, reducing reserves. The anticipated rate increase for the upcoming fiscal year is approximately 15%, and the projected increase over the current year’s estimated expense is approximately $1,060,000. Proposed staffing reductions reduce this impact by approximately $125,000.
Transportation
The district’s contract with Student Transportation of America (STA) expires on June 30, 2026. In May 2025, STA drivers unionized and reached a new collective bargaining agreement that includes significant wage and minimum hour increases. After an extensive bidding process and evaluation of alternatives, the district awarded the new contract to the lowest bidder, STA.
The daily rate per in-town bus increased approximately 45%. This rate also applies to the Middletown technical and agricultural science routes. The increase for current routes totals approximately $1,235,575.
The district continues to explore routing efficiencies to reduce the number of vehicles where feasible. Out-of-district special education transportation remains contracted separately, with increases consistent with other service contracts.
The RSD 17 Board of Education continues to be grateful for the community’s support of our district’s budget.
Haddam Members
Sonja Charpentier, Jennifer Favalora, Shawna Goldfarb, Kelly Haeckel, Heather Pach, Matthew Riggs
Killingworth Members
Tara Amatrudo, Lisa Connelly, Suzanne Sack, Ben Sodergren, Jennifer Voegtli
