BOE looks to council in funding dispute

Although Bridgeport city and school officials have often been at odds over the budget, they are not the only ones waging an internal struggle as state dollars fail to keep up with rising costs.

BRIDGEPORT — If city officials won’t restore $ 250,000 in funding to the school district’s 201819 operating budget, the Board of Education will ask the City Council to transfer the funds.

That is the gist of a three- page letter sent recently by Berchem Moses, the school board’s attorney, to Mayor Joseph P. Ganim.

Schools Superintendent Aresta Johnson told the school board last week that she has not yet received a reply.

The mayor’s office also did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The school board learned this fall that City Budget Director Nester Nkwo treated $ 250,000 of a 2017- 18 budget increase by the city as compensation for a state decision to reduce the board’s Education Cost Sharing Grant by that amount — even though the rescission occurred in December 2017, months after the city approved a $ 387,593 increase to the school district.

Nkwo’s then lowered the starting point on the city’s 2018- 19 contribution to city schools, effectively reducing a $ 1,039,419 increase awarded by the council to $ 789,419.

Under state law, municipalities such as Bridgeport may not reduce its contribution to education.

“That is precisely what Mr. Nkwo did,” wrote Floyd J. Dugas, an attorney for the school board.

When confronted with the situation, the city offered to pay $ 250,000 worth of school district bills without actually transferring the money. The school board refused the offer. Board members worried the district would not be fully compensated and that the state’s Minimum Budget Requirement would be compromised.

“We ... prefer that the City deliver the additional appropriation,” Dugas wrote, adding that it shouldn’t pose any greater financial cost to the city if they were prepared to pay $ 250,000 worth of school district bills.

Dugas said the board is prepared to ask one or more City Council members to submit a resolution to the full council to force the transfer, if necessary. At a meeting this month between members of the school board and city council’s Education and Social Services Committee, council members seemed confused by the situation, but promised to look into the matter.

All council members were copied on the attorney’s letter to the mayor.

Marlene Siegel, the school district’s chief financial officer, said that despite the lack of a response from the city, she expects the district will prevail.

The $ 250,000 is factored into the school district’s $ 248.4 million operating budget. Three quarters of the budget comes from the state. The city pays much of the rest.

Although Bridgeport city and school officials have often been at odds over the budget, they are not the only ones waging an internal struggle as state dollars fail to keep up with rising costs. Ansonia has gone to court over its bottom line. A power play over the cost of school transportation sent Shelton school and city leaders to court over the summer. And last week, New Britain’s school superintendent has accused City Hall of tampering with that school district’s reserve fund.