RSD 17 Education Budget Approved

1. The BOE’s strategy worked exactly as predicted — keep going until voter fatigue flips the result. The No coalition went from winning by 214 in July to losing by 31 in August. That’s a 245-vote swing in six weeks

   The BOE learned something dangerous from this cycle — that persistence pays off regardless of No vote margins. Expect the same playbook next year: ambitious budget, absorb No votes, reduce slightly, win in late summer when turnout favors the Yes coalition.

   The No coalition learned something equally important — 31 votes. That’s the margin. The organized signage campaign and four consecutive No votes came within 16 people of making history. Whether that energy converts into BOE election candidates in November 2027 is now the defining question for Killingworth’s fiscal future.

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2. Mr. Wood, you are correct. Killingworth’s mill rate has increased by 22+ % over the five-year period shown by the town, from 23.22 to 28.47. With the new education budget and the looming possibility of a new HKHS bond of $77.2 million, we all need to be prepared for higher taxpayer payouts.

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3. Mr. Huff: You folks in Killingworth will not be paying the HKHS bond of $77.2 million. The Killingworth taxpayers will be paying only 40% of it, which is about $40,000,000. That will be paid over the life of the bond, which is 25 years. The first two or three years will be low payments; this was pointed out and why at the community presentations. As they said, a lot of money is coming to help pay this. If it is not approved by the end of September, then all funds go away. There were three meetings. Were you at any of them? Haddam-Killingworth High School needs this renovation for all the reasons that have been pointed out. Please, everyone, vote Yes for this renovation.

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4. The 40% framing is misleading

   Yes, Killingworth pays 40% of $77.2M = ~$30.9M — not $40M, framing it as “only 40%” minimizes a $31 million obligation. That’s still the largest single financial commitment Killingworth taxpayers will have ever made.

   The “25 years / low early payments” argument is a red flag

   This is classic bond sales language. Low payments in years 1-3 means higher payments in years 4-25. The total interest cost over 25 years on $31M at current municipal bond rates of ~4-4.5% adds roughly $18-22M in interest — meaning Killingworth actually pays $49-53M total, not $31M.

   “A lot of money is coming to help pay this”

   This refers to state reimbursement. Connecticut typically reimburses 20-40% of school construction costs depending on district wealth. If RSD17 qualifies for say 35% reimbursement on $77.2M that’s about $27M back from the state — leaving a net local cost of ~$50M split 60/40 between Haddam and Killingworth. Killingworth’s net share: roughly $20M over 25 years plus interest.

   But — and this is critical — state reimbursement is not guaranteed upfront. It comes as annual payments over the bond term and depends on state budget priorities. Considering CT’s structural fiscal crisis, counting on 25 years of reliable state reimbursement payments is optimistic.

   The September deadline urgency

   “If it is not approved by the end of September, then all funds go away.” This is the pressure point being used to accelerate the vote — and it’s the same artificial urgency framing used in every capital campaign. The state reimbursement window is real but the “all funds go away” language is designed to panic voters into yes before they’ve done the math.

   Killingworth’s 40% share of $77.2M = ~$30.9M

   • 25-year bond at 4.25% = annual payment ~$2.0M from Killingworth
   • My share based on assessed value proportion: roughly $700-900 more per year permanently
   Roughly 60% of Killingworth residents — the 45-64 cohort plus 65+ — have no direct stake in the school system yet bear the full property tax burden.

   Why am I upset? A community with a rapidly aging demographic, declining school enrollment, and 25.6% of residents already over 65 is being asked to:

   • Absorb a 22% mill rate increase over five years
   • Fund a $77.2M high school renovation over 25 years
   • Do so on a timeline extending well into the 2050s — when today’s 53-year-old median resident will be in their late 70s

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