Bridgeport City Council approves amended $655,474,539 general fund budget, boosts education funding

The Bridgeport City Council on May 12 adopted an amended general fund operating budget for fiscal years 2026–27, recording a final total of $655,474,539 after a series of substitutions and minor appropriations adjustments.

Councilman Ernest Newton, co-chair of the Budget & Appropriations Committee, moved to substitute a revised budget document that added three targeted changes in section C: a $10,000 increase to the Myra program salary account, a $10,000 increase to the city clerk’s salary account (bringing that line to $20,000), and a $20,000 reduction to the arbitration line to offset those additions. “This is probably one of the best budgets we've had in this city in a long time,” Newton said as he summarized the committee’s work.

The council took a roll-call vote on the section C amendment. The clerk recorded a majority of yes votes; one recorded no vote was cast by Ruben Pereira. The chair announced the item passed as recorded.

Supporters emphasized the budget’s emphasis on education. Newton and other members highlighted the council’s decision to put additional local funds toward schools and credited a mayoral commitment and the state delegation’s work. Councilman Newton said the council “stepped up” and noted a $10 million “peak rock” fund plus the mayor’s $5 million contribution this year and a matching $5 million next year toward Board of Education needs.

Not all members supported the package. Councilwoman Maria Pereira said she opposed the overall budget, arguing that elected officials received salary increases in violation of the Connecticut State Constitution and that some raises for relatives of council members and other increases might conflict with local ordinances and union agreements. “We have elected officials receiving salary increases in violation of the Connecticut State Constitution,” Pereira said, and warned she would pursue the matter with federal authorities.

The council proceeded through individual A–E votes (revenues, appropriations and the omnibus package) after members confirmed they had received the amended document. During the session the mayor and clerk read corrected totals into the record; an earlier figure of 33,071,931 was corrected to 34,572,561 for the amendments being recorded.

The council approved the budget package as amended and moved on to related capital items before adjourning. Where roll-call tallies were recorded in the transcript those results are reported; the final omnibus approval was stated in the record as approved by the council.