A preliminary budget increase of nearly 6 percent is being eyed for Brookfield schools, and that’s bad news for taxpayers. The increase is being discussed after school officials said the cost to operate the town’s schools at the same level next year as in this fiscal year, is estimated to be $51.3 million… that’s a whopping a 5.78% jump in just one year. Traditionally, cost increases run about 4% overall. Some of the biggest increases are health insurance and fuel… including heating oil and transportation. All of this comes amid steep increases in the cost of living for everyone, such as keeping food on the table.