Connecticut lawmakers have passed a state budget providing over $270 million in additional education funding to help struggling school districts across the state, marking one of the largest single-year increases in education funding in state history. The funding comes after mayors and superintendents rallied for help, saying they can't afford to fund their school districts. Many, like Bristol and New Britain, have considered cutting teachers and some sports programs. The education part of the budget had bipartisan support.
The increased support for school districts and municipalities is designed to close critical funding gaps in school budgets and town finances without forcing communities to raise property taxes. Governor Ned Lamont released a town-by-town breakdown of the increase in state funding that every school district and municipality in Connecticut will receive from the fiscal year 2027 budget adjustment legislation that received overwhelming, bipartisan approval.
Hartford is at the top of the list, with $20,530,197 in supplemental education aid. "Our expenditures exceed our revenue, so this fund increase or this boost from our governor is super helpful for us," Dr. AndraΓ© Townsel, the superintendent of Hartford Public Schools, said.
In Bloomfield, the additional funds may mean fewer cuts to school services. "We are pleased as heck with the ECS contribution, and we are patiently waiting word regarding the municipal support that we would get," said a Bloomfield official.