Bridgeport public commenter warns of ~$30M shortfall, urges ECS formula fixes

Javon Zakalovic told the Connecticut State Board of Education on June 3 that Bridgeport faces an ‘‘approximately $30 million’’ structural gap in its school budget when temporary state funding expires. “Bridgeport is currently relying on roughly $15 million in supplemental one-time ECS related funding and another $10 million in non-recurring tax stabilization grants,” he said during public participation, adding the district was still awaiting $5 million authorized by the General Assembly.

Zakalovic said the shortfall is not the result of local mismanagement but of policy choices that rely on one‑time funds instead of formulaic increases. He recommended three changes to the Education Cost Sharing (ECS) approach: raise the foundation amount (proposing a move toward $17,500 beginning with a minimum of $14,500 and an annual $750 increase for four years), revise the wealth-calculation weights toward a 40% property/60% income split, and fully fund special‑education grant formulas and excess-cost reimbursement rates.

The commenter framed the proposals as formulaic, not bailouts: “When these adjustments are applied together the formula produces approximately 30 to $35 million for Bridgeport,” he said, arguing the result would redistribute resources according to need rather than provide ad hoc relief.

Board members did not take immediate action on the recommendations during the public‑comment period. Commissioners and staff later reviewed district finance items and audits during the meeting, including separate updates on Hartford and Bridgeport fiscal monitoring.

The public comment is part of an ongoing debate in Connecticut about how ECS and one‑time grants should be phased into recurring funding and how special‑education costs should be reimbursed. The board did not vote on policy changes during the session; any formula revisions would require legislative or administrative action outside this meeting.