February 19, 2026
.com
Guilford Vol. XXIX Iss. 8
Health Care Costs Drive 6.25% School Budget Increase By Aaron Rubin Staff Writer
Driven primarily by rising health care costs and higher salaries, the Guilford Board of Education’s (BOE) proposed $79 million budget projects a 6.25% increase over current expenses, according to the school district. Medical costs for the district have risen by $2.5 million, Superintendent Paul Freeman
said, and are among the largest contributors to the overall $4.6 million budget increase for the next fiscal year. “It’s really driving our expenses,” he told the Guilford Courier. The rising cost of health care follows a national trend, Freeman said, and has been one of the biggest drivers of the upward trend in BOE budgets over the past five years. Part
of that is the result of the school district and the rest of the town “going through a period with high claims,” he said. “The insurance companies see that kind of recent experience, and they raise your rates,” he said. “It’s our school employees, most of the town employees, and when the insurance See Health Care Costs page 10
Tara Helen O’Connor is helping lead the Essex Winter Series into a new season..................................2
A Sweet Tradition Jim Powers of Dudley Farm in Guilford stokes the firebox of an evaporator as steam rises from boiling sap during a maple sugaring demonstration Feb. 15. The process requires about 40 gallons of sap to produce one gallon of maple syrup. Dudley Farm will host additional sugaring demonstrations Feb. 2122 and features a vintage valentine display in the farmhouse.
Photo by Wesley Bunnell/ The Courier
A Tough Season Guilford boys basketball turns its focus to offseason improvements.............................12
New for the New Year Madison Lyric Stage has announced its 2026 lineup............................19
Spring is almost here. Let’s get your home ready for market. 203.520.7899
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