Bridgeport officials warn of deep shortfall as board sends 2025–26 budget request to city

The Bridgeport Board of Education on March 10 voted to submit its 2025–26 budget request to the city, asking for $25 million while finance committee leaders warned the district still faces a structural shortfall that could top tens of millions of dollars next year.

Board members and district staff said the district has closed some of the gap for the current fiscal year using one‑time reserves and other savings but must still address an estimated remaining shortfall for 2025–26. Finance Committee chair Mr. Sikalovic told the board the committee expects to confront “an anticipated budget gap of $23,000,000 give or take a few million dollars” once final state numbers arrive.

The request the board approved is a necessary step to meet the city’s calendar: it authorizes the superintendent to submit the proposed total operating request for the 2025–26 school year. The board’s action does not finalize cuts; it establishes the amount the district will ask the City of Bridgeport to fund while staff and committees continue work to close remaining gaps.

District and committee leaders described how a mix of factors…