April 16, 2026
.com
Chester, Deep River, & Essex Vol. XXVI Iss. 16
DRES Budget Seeks 3.44% Increase By Aaron Rubin Staff Writer
The Deep River Board of Education is proposing a 3.44% increase in expenditures for the next fiscal year, with total spending of $6,764,086 for the 2026–2027 academic year. The Deep River Board of Finance and
members of the Board of Selectmen were presented with the elementary school budget and education-related financial trends across the tri-town region during a joint meeting with education leaders on April 7. Region 4 School District Superintendent Brian White informed Deep River officials about the major cost drivers observed across all bud-
gets in the tri-town area, all of which are “contractually driven,” he said, with around 80% of all expenditures in Deep River’s elementary school budget allocated to employee-related spending. “The salary and benefits cost of our See DRES Budget page 9 Chris Shepard has a song to sing with Con Brio................................2
Springtime Photo Stop Abigail Fryxell, left, and Libby Vitari pose in a field of daffodils across from the Essex Fire Department on April 11, as Libby’s mother, Ashley Fitton, photographs them. The trio are among many who stop throughout the day to take photos in the flowers, part of the Essex Board of Trade’s Daffodil Days celebration featuring more than 45,000 daffodils planted from Ivoryton to Centerbrook through April 21.
Photo by Wesley Bunnell/ Valley Courier
Chasing a Title Valley Regional and Old Saybrook crew co-op looks to build on last year’s state championship............20
Bringing Light and Atmosphere Cloudscapes is putting skies center stage at Susan Powell Fine Art.......................................23
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