Board of Education advances $245.9M school budget to next review stage

The proposed 2026–2027 education budget now moves into the municipal approval process.

Why it matters:
The school budget represents the largest portion of town spending and will directly influence the FY2027 mill rate.

The Fairfield Board of Education has approved a proposed $245,944,528 operating budget for the 2026–2027 school year, a 5.54% increase over the current fiscal year.

With the Board’s vote complete, the proposal advances to the Board of Selectmen for review before moving to the Board of Finance and ultimately the Representative Town Meeting (RTM) for final action.

The school district’s budget typically accounts for the majority of Fairfield’s total municipal expenditures. Changes at this stage affect staffing levels, program offerings, contractual obligations, and capital planning.

The proposal now enters the broader municipal budget cycle. The Board of Finance will examine both the education request and the general government budget before establishing a final spending level to send to the RTM.

The timing places the school budget squarely within a fiscal year shaped by Fairfield’s recent property revaluation. While assessed values determine the tax base, the adopted spending level determines the mill rate applied to those values.

For residents, the practical impact is forward-looking: any modifications made by the Board of Finance or RTM could alter the final education allocation before adoption later this spring.

Sources: Town of Fairfield; local reporting.