Bristol, CT: Board of Ed facing $3.4M SPED deficit

Mar 13, 2026,  Board of Education confronts $3.4M deficit while revising $154M budget - The Bristol Edition

The Board of Education is expected to run a year and special education deficit of $3.4 million at their regular meeting on Wednesday night.

Chair Shelby Pons said that an additional appropriation was legally required to cover the deficit, and that she had been in contact with the mayor’s office and the Board of Finance regarding the matter. Pons explained that historically, additional appropriations were made after the year has ended, once deficits were known.

In a recent workshop between the Board of Finance, City Council and Board of Education Attorneys Matthew Ritter and Thomas Mooney of Shipman & Goodwin LLP reviewed the laws governing the Board of Education budget.

“Attorney [Thomas] Mooney advised that supplemental appropriation should be made before deficit spending occurs, to better reflect the true cost of running the district and to not deficit spend. Including the appropriation in the current year’s budget provides the Board of Finance and City Council with a more accurate starting point for next year’s budget,” Pons said.

Pons explained that over the last several years, budget increases were primarily driven by required special education costs, and after covering such expenses, limited funds were left to cover other items.

“This is why the Board was asked to eliminate positions last year. No one wants to make further cuts, and we all recognize the negative impact these reductions had on our schools and students.” Pons said.

Pons used the prior year budget as an example, explaining that it was reported as a 5% increase, but did not account for a supplemental appropriation for special education costs, and that the increase would have been less that 1% once additional funding was added.

“These are not easy issues, and there isn’t a simple solution, but everyone involved is continuing to work together to find thoughtful and creative ways to reduce costs and make the most of our available resources and rebuild trust in the community.” Pons said. . .