The city desperately needs a new Harding High School. In a news release Mayor Bill Finch lauds state money for a new school and construction improvements to existing schools. The city’s portion for school construction of these projects appears to be more than $30 million, but approval of state dough provides some hope that a new Harding is possible. It’s unclear about a timeline or location for Harding. From Mayor Finch:
City to Receive $135 Million in State Funding for School Construction Projects
The state has approved funding for a new Harding High School along with improvements to Central High School and Black Rock School, thanks to new legislation just passed in Hartford.
Both the House of Representatives and the Senate approved a measure which will result in nearly $135 million in grants to fund school construction projects.
“Thanks to the incredible work by our delegation, to bring these much needed funds to the students of Bridgeport,” said Mayor Bill Finch. “These projects will bring our students the facilities needed to compete in the knowledge-based economy of the 21st Century.”
This legislation was aggressively pushed by State Representatives Charles “Don” Clemons Jr., Auden Grogins, and Andres Ayala, who was one of the co-sponsors of the bill, and State Sen. Anthony Musto.
“Thanks to this legislation, we’re able to usher in a new era for Harding High School,” said State Rep. Clemons. “I look forward to seeing our City’s students in a new state-of-the-art building.”
Along with a new Harding High School, the State will also provide funds for additions and alterations to Central High School and Black Rock and Dunbar Schools. These school construction projects which are estimated to cost $172,480,202 will be aided $134,896,766 in grants from the State.
Okay Mario, get your pals ready for more school moolah. “keep-a-da checks coming boys” The DTC doesn’t run on pasta alone.
Well at least Julian, O & G and J. Pic will be able to afford to send their kids to college.
This is such a sad state of affairs. We are opening new schools but fail to educate our existing students. This bloated expansion serves no one but these expanded egos who could care less about education. We need to regroup and consolidate our system. If we fail this, we fail the future of our children.
A quality education of Bridgeport children is on many minds (and many lips at election time). It was even on Mayor Finch’s lips as his second of many vision statements in 2007. What progress has been made towards that goal in nearly four years? An answer is not contained in any relative metric I can source.
I understand much State funding (bonding of 75 to 90% of different school projects) has occurred with Bridgeport’s own contribution also in the past 10 years. It seems whatever the project construction problems in some cases, when the school opened it has been found to be too big to operate smoothly relative to smaller neighborhood school models where everybody knows everybody else. Other planning issues exist in the rush for new, bigger, spend the money.
We are also discovering the eligible school population is shrinking. Whether it is private schools, Charter schools, a smaller demographic available is not as important as focusing on the number and needs to be served. The State expects our forecasts to be met or we will face financial penalties in future years due to shrinking, Ramos has told us, as hang over the City already for recent new structures.
Personally speaking, having looked at the handling of the City budget by decision makers this year, especially the funding of short-term (tax anticipation notes) and longer term (bonding for capital projects) paper, I am not sure more than one handful of people in the City have any idea what Mayor and Council commit the City to pay for 30 years out. That is serious, because while the City audit points out excess funding capacity in its report, the markets will never provide that to us. In the meantime our expense of credit will be relatively higher though right now it is low. We have learned that the Pension Obligation Bond, for some reason, was structured not to have a flexibility to refund currently, 10 years down the road, when it’s interest cost paid by Bridgeport taxpayers, could be lowered to Bridgeport taxpayers normally. For us to refund today, the City would have to pay a premium to current bondholders to negotiate out of our paying 7.64%. That was set in motion by Stafstrom and Ganim. Perhaps one or both would like to explain their reasoning in the light of current financial markets.
And finally, bond payments annually like the $30 Million to Pension A Bond principal and interest contained in the 2011 Police and Fire budgets crowds out more current and pressing needs and obligations. Like making FULL GRADUAL ACTUARIALLY MINIMUM FUNDING ADVISED TO THE CITY FOR 15 YEARS OR MORE BY OUR OWN PAID PROFESSIONAL. No need to go to the State of CT, hat in hand like a penitent confessor to get our blessed waiver of pension obligation. How does that behavior look to outside investors looking to put their money into City projects?
We are failing ourselves and our children as we continue to let a foolish few rule this financial structure. I am one taxpayer. If you disagree with me, tell me where I am wrong. Dialogue about serious matters is necessary in Bridgeport.
It’s time for B2 to get back on his methaqualone, come on B2.
Ronin,
Cuppy put you on her team yesterday. No response from you. Is it because you know your drugs, as the above advice suggests? Or just because you won’t vote for anyone who increases taxes and she feels you are on her team?
If you disagree with me above, or believe that I am over the top, especially if you are a City taxpayer on real estate, tell me where. Explain it in such simple terms (with facts please) including your opinion. Others have told me to “dumb it down” for instance. So what is your exception to my post? Where are my facts wrong? My connection of facts or judgements?
In the case of who has knowledge in Bridgeport of the financial situation we are in, I have suggested there are fewer than five people in the City who could provide an outline and teach a class of taxpayers with informational handouts. In the largest City in the State, isn’t that embarrassing and dangerous?
If your household bears $27,000 of our local debt and liability and $47,000 or more of the Federal liability (to say nothing of what CT debt and liability burden divided by households would be), do you think it makes sense to understand the numbers? Well I do and I think that is a commonly shared concern. It probably is the basis for why you wish to pay no more taxes than we do now.
I choose to know the details so I can be sure our tax burden is not increased. Sharing the details fully and openly has been characteristic of “Mario Machine” Mayors. That is why we find ourselves where we are now.
Published 03:46 p.m., Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Connecticut Post Editorial Bored Hoodwinked by Finch!
Though Gov. Dannel P. Malloy has proclaimed his distaste for such procrastination, he should support the city of Bridgeport’s appeal for relief in its required contribution to one of its pension funds.
It is a plan–the so-called Plan A–that covers people who joined the city’s Police and Fire departments before October 1981 and over the decades reaching back to the ’60s, Plan A’s participants have benefited from a number of perks bestowed through the administrations of Democratic and Republican mayors alike.
Those benefits included an “escalator clause,” which gave its members increases equal to raises negotiated by their active counterparts, and a 20-and-out provision, allowing department employees to retire at 75 percent of their pay after 20 years.
State law would require the city to contribute $20 million to that fund in the coming fiscal year.
As has been noted here, it is unfair, particularly given the city’s financial situation, to require Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch–and city taxpayers–to make up in one chunk a liability that has been growing for decades.
Finch, at least, is doing something to address the problem, unlike the last two of his predecessors. Were Finch simply shirking responsibility, the case for relief would be pretty thin.
While approval of Bridgeport’s request is expected from the House and Senate, it will remain for Malloy to OK the adjustment. As long as Bridgeport is making a good-faith effort to get Plan A fully funded, it should be allowed to do so under a modified payment plan.
Please read the Post CORRECTION in today’s paper
Correction
Published 04:00 p.m., Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Maybe they should reconsider their position based on the true facts of their correction?
From the Connecticut Post:
An editorial that appeared online Tuesday and in Wednesday’s newspaper incorrectly said participants in Bridgeport’s Plan A pension program for police and firefighters could retire after 20 years on the job at 75 percent pay. The so-called 20-and-out pension program allowed employees to retire after 20 years at 50 percent of pay. They could earn another 2.5 percent for each year worked after 20, to earn a maximum pension of 75 percent of pay. An employee would have to work 30 years to reach the 75 percent maximum.
Read more: www .ctpost.com/news/article/Correction-1415503.php
It’s great they want to build a new Harding High School and remodel Dunbar school with state funds. I have a few questions.
The new regional high school that is going to be built at Fairchild Park is supposed to take 800 kids from Harding. How many kids does that leave at the old Harding?
In 2010 the BOE and the city bonded for $30 million for remodeling of Harding & Central, to date no money has been spent and we are paying on these bonds. Why???
Dunbar school is underpopulated. Why are we going to remodel it with this new state money?
Does anyone in power know what the hell they are doing?
I thought the new regional magnet high school was a dead issue. Trumbull said no way, no how. Am I wrong?
chs: The state, Trumbull and Bridgeport worked out a land-swap deal and the project is a go. 800 kids from Harding are scheduled to attend this new high school so my question is how many kids are left at Harding?
What the hell has city hall smoker been smoking?
chs should be happy with the decriminalization of the possession of weed.
Guess I had a senior moment.
smoker, the regional magnet school is moving forward. P&Z is scheduled to meet this Monday night. A couple of parties including Trumbull may intervene in the matter because of some issues.
*** Seeing is believing when it comes to political money for anything positive in Bpt. ***