State Education Funding Facing Devastating Cuts in Near Future (CT)
July 8, 2010
Connecticut politicians have said maintaining education spending at current levels in this year’s budget that began July 1 was a major accomplishment in the current recession. Civic watchdogs agree, but warn that even tougher times are coming for school funding.
Kathy Wilson, school finance specialist with the League of Women Voters of Connecticut, says an infusion of federal stimulus money once propped up the state’s education spending, but no more.
"The $540 million that we received in Connecticut over the last two years ends this year – unless Congress acts."
A bill in Congress to provide more money is unlikely to pass, she says.
The Education Cost Sharing grant from the state to local school districts totals just under $2 billion a year, and it’s going to be a challenge for the General Assembly and the governor to find a way to replace the federal contribution to that, Wilson adds.
"That would be just to stay even with where we are, never mind trying to implement the changes and improvements that many candidates are touting as part of their platforms when they’re running for office."
The General Assembly put education reforms in place to increase the state’s chances of winning federal Race to the Top dollars, but Wilson notes that the state’s own Office of Fiscal Analysis has not been able to calculate the full cost of the reforms.
"My concern – the League’s concern – is that the Race to the Top money, should we get it, will not come close to covering the additional costs."