Granby School Committee Delays Budget Forum as Town Funding Figures Remain Unresolved

GRANBY — March 24, 2026 — Granby School Committee pushes back budget forum one week amid unresolved town funding figures. The committee voted unanimously at its March 24 meeting to move its public budget hearing to Tuesday, March 31, after Business Manager Todd Gazda told members that two critical unknowns — the town's FY27 in-kind expense charge and whether the community will continue providing $600,000 above the required local contribution — make it impossible to present a complete budget picture. In-kind expenses billed to the schools by the town totaled $2,986,000 in FY26, with health insurance alone accounting for $1,165,000; Gazda said insurance costs have grown roughly 50 percent this calendar year. The committee agreed to prepare all available budget scenarios for the March 31 forum, including worst-case options, warning that falling below prior-year spending would jeopardize hundreds of thousands of dollars in federal special education grants. The committee also voted to approve school choice seats for 2026-27, adding two slots for 12th graders over the principals' recommendation, and received a state Integrated Monitoring Review report showing no findings of non-compliance, with corrective actions planned for summer implementation.