Middletown Delegation Secures Funding for School Renovation, Increases Municipal Funding by Nearly $9 Million Over Two Years

In the final days of the 2025 legislative session, the Middletown legislative delegation, state Senators Matt Lesser and Jan Hochadel, and state Representatives Kai Belton and Brandon Chafee, gave final approval to a biennium budget that delivers significant investments in the city, including over $41 million in state aid for two school projects and substantial increases in municipal funding.

Middletown is in the process of rebuilding the Macdonough Elementary School, and the Middletown delegation was able to secure an 81% state reimbursement rate for the $48.9 million project, thereby bringing $39.61 million in state aid to the town. School children will be temporarily relocated to Keigwin School at a maximum cost of $2 million, and the Middletown delegation was able to secure another 81% state reimbursement of $1.6 million for that move.

The biennium budget includes $52.3 million in FY 26 for Middletown, which is an increase of $4.3 million over FY 25, and $52.6 million in FY 27, which is an increase of $4.5 million over FY 25.

“We were proud to deliver a historic investment in Middletown’s future,” said Sen. Lesser. “Investing in school construction and renovation isn’t just about buildings, it’s about giving every child a safe, modern, and inspiring place to learn. This funding will make a real difference for students, teachers, and families. The additional $2 million to prepare Keigwin as a temporary site ensures students will have a safe, supportive place to learn in the meantime.”

“This funding is a big win for Middletown families,” said Sen. Hochadel. “Macdonough needs major upgrades, and these state dollars will help create a safer, more comfortable learning environment for both students and staff. I’m also glad we’ve secured funding to prepare Keigwin as a temporary home, so learning continues without disruption. It’s great to see Middletown and the state making thoughtful investments in our students’ futures.”

“I’m proud of the funding the Middletown delegation secured for Keigwin and Macdonough schools,” said Rep. Belton. “This critical funding will improve learning environment and support our students and educators. The state budget we passed is a step in the right direction, it invests in education, housing, public health, and support for working families. We still have more to do to make sure every community gets the resources and opportunities they deserve.”

“Due to the hard work of our delegation, we have once again secured a record level of state funding for Middletown,” said Rep. Chafee. “This will ensure we are able to fund programs throughout the community, and continue investing in our future, while keeping property taxes down. We were able to deliver a historic level of education funding, as well as $2 million to renovate the former Kegwin Middle School to get it ready to receive students this fall while MacDonough elementary is reconstructed. We have also secured an agreement in which the state will reimburse the city of Middletown 80% of the construction costs associated with MacDonough, ensuring our students have a healthy and safe space to learn without overburdening our local tax payers.”

“I am excited and grateful that city taxpayers will see an even smaller local cost-sharing burden on the critical reconstruction project at Macdonough Elementary School,” said Middletown Mayor Ben Florsheim. “In fact, thanks to the efforts of Senator Lesser and the entire Middletown delegation, the Macdonough project will see the highest rate of state reimbursement, 81%, of any school construction project approved this year, meaning that less than one-fifth of the construction costs will fall on the City. This is a meaningful investment by the State of Connecticut in educating our kids and in moving with urgency to create a new, state-of-the-art facility in the heart of the North End, and it would not have been possible without the delegation’s leadership and advocacy.”

“Middletown is eternally grateful to our delegation in Hartford and the building committee at McDonough School that has worked tirelessly with our leaders to get ourselves in a position to start this most important school renovation project,” said Gene Nocera, City Council President.

Senator Lesser Delivers Funding to Wethersfield School District, Increases Municipal Funding in State Budget

Today, state Senator Matt Lesser (D-Middletown) is celebrating the increased state funding and state reimbursement rates that he helped to secure in the new state budget for three schools in Wethersfield. Each of the school projects will now receive a state reimbursement rate of 71.79%, instead of 56.79%. Senator Lesser also helped to secure an increase of funding for Wethersfield in FY 26 and FY 27.

-The Highcrest Elementary School will now receive $52.768 million in state aid toward its $73.504 million cost.

-The Samuel Webb Elementary School will now receive $76.1 million in state aid toward its $106 million cost.

-The Charles Wright Elementary School will also receive a 71.79% reimbursement rate toward the cost of its renovation.

“This new funding is a generational victory for Wethersfield families,” said Senator Lesser. “By increasing the state’s share of these school construction costs, we’re dramatically reducing the burden on local taxpayers while making long-overdue investments in our children’s education. Ultimately Wethersfield residents will make the decision at an upcoming referendum. I’m proud to have worked closely with town leaders and with the Wethersfield delegation to secure this critical funding.”

The biennium budget includes $19.1 million in FY 26 for Wethersfield, which is an increase of $500,000 over FY 25, and $19.2 million in FY 27, which is an increase of $600,000 over FY 25.

Sen. Lesser Passes Prescription Drug Task Force Recommendations

-Establishing a program to import safe, low cost drugs from Canada

-Establishing a duty of good faith and fair dealing for Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBM) to act in the best interest of the health carrier or other health benefit plan sponsor, and requires disclosure to the insurance department of pricing and profits when one parent company owns a PBM, insurer and/or pharmacy

-Disclosing any conflict of interest to a plan sponsor that might keep a PBM from fulfilling its duty of good faith and fair dealing

-Directing the Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) to to address supply chain issues by moving production to Connecticut

-Ensuring that drug costs be credited against a patient’s deductible, even if the drug is outside of the plan’s preferred drug list or purchased for cash

-Directing the state to engage in bulk purchasing of drugs and piggyback off federal Medicare negotiated prices in purchasing

-Requiring PBMs to offer plan sponsors the option of participating in a pass-through pricing model that prevents the PBM from charging more for a prescription than was paid to the dispensing pharmacy, protecting community pharmacies from monopolistic market pressure

-Directing the Department of Social Services to work with federal partners to seek generic production of name-brand GLP-1 weight loss drugs like Mounjaro and Wegovy

-Creating a task force to study drug shortages, strengthening the supply chain and producing vital medication in Connecticut