CFO warns of tighter budget, potential $24M–$30M gap and transportation funding uncertainty

The Bridgeport Board of Education chief financial officer told the finance committee that the district faces significant fiscal pressure for the coming year because previously budgeted attrition savings and one-time funds will not recur.

The update, presented at a virtual committee meeting, drew questions about staffing, special-education funding, and a state-negotiated transportation arrangement that staff said is being subsidized by one-time legislative funding.

Esther, the district’s chief financial officer, said the adopted budget included approximately $6.5 million in anticipated attrition savings — the result of regular attrition plus an assumed elimination of 20 teacher positions — but that many positions, including special-education posts, have since been filled. “The budget is tight,” Esther said, adding that the attrition savings “will not be there because most of the positions have been filled.”

Esther told the committee the district used $22 million of its internal-service fund balance last…