Norwalk Schools Could Face Reduction In State Funding

NORWALK, Conn. – Norwalk’s share of K-12 educational funding from the state could be cut for the next school year, according to Mayor Richard Moccia.

With the state expecting a $400 million deficit – and possibly a greater amount the following year – Moccia warned the Board of Education on Tuesday that the amount the city receives from the state could be affected.

"There is very little chance we’ll get an increase in ECS funding next year,” Moccia told the board during a meeting in City Hall. “And we may be lucky to keep what we have been getting.”

Under the state Educational Cost Sharing formula, the city's schools receive about $11 million each year from the state. That amount represents about 7 percent of the $150 million Norwalk spends annually on schools, according to board Chairman Michael Lyons.

City officials are taking a wait-and-see stance on the funding issue, but Lyons and board member Jack Chiaramonte said Norwalk receives less in state aid than other municipalities. The average share that state funding represents of town school budgets is 30 percent compared with Norwalk’s 7 percent, Lyons said.

“We’ve been fighting a battle for years that Norwalk gets an unfair share of state educational funding,” Moccia said.

West Hartford, for example, receives about $2.26 for every $1 it gives the state, Chiaramonte said.

“For every $1 that Norwalk gives to the state, we get back about $0.13,” he said. “It’s just not fair.”

Click here to follow Daily Voice Norwalk and receive free news updates.