Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton says the City will have to be flexible and nimble to get through next budget year given the uncertainty about state aid to municipalities. 

Council President Joe Cavo asked on Tuesday night about the education funding cut announced last week.  Danbury was capped at a loss of $250,000 because the City is one of the Alliance School Districts.  Boughton says he is thankful for cap, but noted that the Education Cost Sharing funding goes directly to the school board.  He told the Council that the City is not going to make a further appropriation and that the Board of Education knows they have to absorb that cut from the state.

Even if Danbury had the money to appropriate, Boughton said he wouldn't do that because then the baseline spending for schools would go up for next year.  It would be the baseline from fiscal year 2016-17, plus $250,000.  Schools can't receive less than they did the year before. 

Boughton mentioned that the education funding fairness case, which is being appealed.  A judge ruled that there are certain municipalities that are underfunded.  Boughton called Danbury the poster child for not receiving its fair share.  While there will likely not be any more money in the Education Cost Sharing pool, Boughton says it will likely be appropriated differently and Danbury could get a higher percentage.

He cautioned that the state will get municipalities one way or another and could reduce or eliminate LOCIP funding.  That's money for Local Capital Improvement Projects.