Ridgefield Selectpersons have responded to a 4.62% increase in the school budget for the upcoming fiscal year, following the Board of Education's recent 6-3 vote to adopt a $125.3 million operating budget. The budget, which includes 3.22% of “rollover” costs, legal and compliance requirements, and 1.47% of new investments, including staffing, and ongoing initiatives such as elementary world language expansion and pay-to-participate funding. Superintendent Susie Da Silva highlighted multiple cost pressures, including special education volatility, utilities, transportation, fuel and legal expenses, as well as a $450,000 “turnover’s assumption when higher-salaried staff retire and are replaced by lower-cost hires, as a potential future savings. Several selectpersons raised concerns about long-term sustainability, particularly in light of enrollment declines over the past two decades. They also expressed concern about the potential tax impact when school spending is combined with rising municipal costs and debt service.