Greenwich Schools Bust Through Town Guidelines by $1.6 million Despite Falling Enrollment
On Thursday, November 5, Greenwich Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Toni Jones unveiled a proposed 2027–2028 operating budget of $216.43 million—a $9.25 million (4.47%) increase over the current year. (See: November 5 Budget Presentation Video)
In her transmittal letter, Dr. Jones characterized the request as being "very close" to expectations. The numbers tell a different story:
Budget Buster
The Board of Estimate and Taxation (BET) formally set the school district’s FY28 operating cap at 3.71% (or $214.86 million). Superintendent Dr. Toni Jones’ proposed budget of $216.43 million (a 4.47% increase) blows past that ceiling by $1.57 million—even as student enrollment drops across all grade levels.
Even if you strip out the proposed $500,000 in-house Board of Education attorney, the request still sits at 4.23%, leaving it more than $1 million over the cap.
Where the Money Goes
Dr. Jones explained that specific rising costs drove the request over BET guidelines. Guaranteed contractual salary increases (76% of the operating budget) rose 3.6%, adding $5.6 million and driving 60% of the total budget expansion. Special Education (SPED) costs jumped roughly 7.1% (now 16.1% of the budget), accounting for $2.3 million, or about a quarter of the increase. The remaining growth was driven by dedicated building substitute teachers, in-house legal counsel ($500K), and new student device leases.
The Hidden Taxpayer Burden
To address chronic staffing shortages, district leadership converted part-time (0.7 FTE) Pre-K paraprofessionals into full-time roles (1.0 FTE) and funded dedicated building substitutes (+$755,000). While the school operating ledger shows only hourly wages, every new full-time position automatically triggers costly town-subsidized healthcare and retirement benefits that are estimated to increase 5%.
Because employee benefits are paid out of Town "Fixed Charges" rather than the school budget, the Board of Education adds permanent, benefit-eligible headcount without carrying those mounting liabilities on its own balance sheet. Taxpayers absorb the difference directly on their property tax bills.
Enrollment is Falling
In the enrollment report presented in October, total K–12 enrollment (excluding Pre-K) this year dropped to 7,848 students, down 2.5%, or 201 students, from last year’s 8,049, falling well short of the district's 8,000-student projection. (See: Fewer Students Higher Overhead in Greenwich Public Schools). Next year's enrollment is expected to drop again.
A public hearing about the budget will take place on December 3, and the BOE will vote on the budget on December 17. The discussion of the capital budget (e.g., school building projects, Natatorium) has been delayed.
Between the Lines: Exceeding BET spending limits by $1.6 million while student enrollment shrinks isn't "very close" to guidelines—it is an expanding overhead problem with long-term benefit costs quietly handed to Greenwich taxpayers.