CT SB01068

Repeals and replaces Section 10-262j of the general statutes effective July 1, 2019, updating minimum education budget requirements for fiscal years ending June 30, 2020 and 2021.

Establishes that town education budgets must be no less than the prior fiscal year plus any aid increases, except towns may reduce budgets due to aid reductions or net decreases in resident student counts using the previous five fiscal years of data.

Permits districts to reduce education budgets for documented savings from increased efficiencies or regional collaboration (maximum one-half of one percent of budget) or for declining high school enrollment in non-high school districts paying tuition.

Exempts alliance districts and districts in the top ten percent by accountability index from budget reductions for fiscal years ending June 30, 2020 and 2021; also exempts member towns of new regional school districts during their first full fiscal year.

Adds provision allowing self-insured districts that experienced catastrophic losses in prior fiscal year to exclude the related budget increase when calculating subsequent year appropriations.