NEW MILFORD — School board members approved a nearly $64.3 million budget at Wednesday’s meeting, which is 2.34 percent more than the current budget.
The total is about $159,000 less than the budget Superintendent Joshua Smith presented with cuts made in workers compensation, property liability insurance, strategic planning and field trips.
Board members Angela C. Chastain, Joseph Failla and Wendy Faulenbach opposed the budget because they said the board could have made more cuts. They said only $35,000 were cuts the board made and the rest were from insurance.
Higher employee benefit costs and unknowns associated with special needs students’ out placements are the biggest drivers for the budget increase.
Smith has said the tight budget preserves all programs, but eliminates nine teaching positions, two of which were already removed during this school year. A state-required bilingual teacher will be added.
School officials also tried to keep the increase down by budgeting for only a few extra outplacements for students with special needs, which they said is risky.