Fairfield and the State ECS Grants

Here is an explanation from the CT Assoc of Boards of Education or CABE that Cathy Albin passed along... This seems to have us covered....there is no penalty to the Town if the BOE funding is less than the prior year. Now we can discuss what is really the most important issue - What quality of Education do we want to fund for our town? Also - the one big caveat to what you are about to read - this assumes the State actually funds the remaining balance on the FY09 ECS Grant. If that amount is cut more than $20,000 and the regulation is renewed, we could be back to facing penalties. Of course, the State won't make that decision until after we vote on the Referendum if that is approved. Here is what Ms. Albin sent along...

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Action Needed to Maintain Local Education Support Many questions have arisen about the status of the minimum budget requirement for education appropriations in the upcoming year. The minimum budget requirement provision in Conn. Gen. Stat. 10-262i applies to towns receiving an increase in ECS funds. Since it is anticipated that the legislature will flat fund ECS in 2009-10, there is no requirement in existing legislation that municipalities appropriate at least the same level of funding as in 2008-09. The MBR provision needs to be revised to provide districts a guarantee of minimum funding not linked to ECS funding increases and to account for the stimulus funds coming to boards of education via the state fiscal stabilization fund monies - for which boards will be held accountable. Legislative leadership of both parities are aware of this issue and will be discussing it as part of the budget deliberations. You can help by bringing this issue to the attention of your legislators.