New commission aims to overhaul 'bare bones' school funding and lower property taxes
Gov. Ned Lamont appointed a new Blue-Ribbon Commission on K-12 Education Funding and Accountability on Thursday. He wants them to look at how to spend education dollars more efficiently.
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Gov. Ned Lamont wants to overhaul how Connecticut pays for schools – and hopefully lower property taxes.
On Thursday, he created a new blue-ribbon commission tasked with recommending changes to the state’s Education Cost Sharing Formula.
But the effort isn’t necessarily about spending more money.
“BARE BONES RIGHT NOW”
No matter where you live, the price of education is skyrocketing.
In Bridgeport, the Roosevelt School has a library full of books – but no librarians to staff it.
“We’re at the bare bones right now,” city council member Jeanette Herron said.
In Monroe, schools could face more than $400,000 in cuts. Superintendent Joe Kobza is asking residents to approve a budget increase.
“We can have those hard conversations, but not at the expense of our children,” said Monroe Town Council member Jason Maur.
School districts across the state say that state funding hasn’t kept up with the cost of teaching kids. In many towns, that has meant higher property taxes.
“The price of everything is up,” said parent Katie Tolan. “Insurance is, gas. You name it, we’re paying more for everything.”
SCHOOL FUNDING OVERHAUL?
On Thursday, Lamont signed an executive order creating a new Blue-Ribbon Commission on K-12 Education Funding and Accountability to recommend changes.
“Where our current structure is creating inefficiencies and leaving gaps,” said Natalie Wagner, the new commission’s chair.
But Lamont said the move isn’t just about spending more; he wants to spend education dollars smarter.
That could include regionalizing functions like school transportation and cybersecurity. Lamont also pitched letting districts join the state health insurance plan.
“Orange, Connecticut – their school board would save $326,000. Meriden – they like to do things separately – their city and their Board of Ed, if they did that together under the partnership plan, they could save $2 million,” Lamont said. “We have more purchasing power. We can do a better job on a statewide basis, rather than have 169 towns doing their own thing.”
CONTROVERSIAL IDEA
But in the Land of Steady Habits, regionalizing schools is controversial. When Lamont proposed it during his first year in office, parents packed the state Capitol to protest.
“We moved here three years ago to Wilton for the schools,” Wilton Board of Education chair Ruth DeLuca told News 12 Connecticut in March 2019.
“Right now, I think our school size is reasonable. Bigger is not necessarily better," said parent Xuehai Ling.
Lamont insisted there will be no mandates this time around.
“All we’re going to do is present options to people so they can make the right choices for themselves,” he told reporters.
IMMEDIATE RELIEF
The new commission won’t make recommendations until next year.
To give taxpayers immediate relief, Lamont on Thursday committed to sending schools an extra $100 million out of money set aside for taxpayer rebate checks.
But lawmakers from both parties want to go even further, raising the base amount that the state sends local school districts. It hasn’t changed since 2013.
“School districts cannot wait for relief, which is why the Senate is committed to acting this session on our priority legislation to raise the ECS foundation grant and increase base funding for every student in Connecticut,” state Senate Democrats said in a statement. “Long-term reform and short-term investment are both essential.”
Republicans agreed.
“I worry this will be more pageantry than progress,” said House GOP leader Vin Candelora (R-North Branford). “Towns need help now. House Republicans have a sustainable budget proposal to deliver it.”
Last week, Connecticut House Republicans proposed spending an additional $365 million every year on schools. They are also pitching a bigger property tax credit.
But the plan relies on suing New York to recapture remote workers’ income tax payments. Even if a lawsuit is successful, it could take years.
