SENATOR CABRERA APPROVES FY ‘27 STATE BUDGET WITH NEW EDUCATION AID FOR 17th SENATE DISTRICT RESIDENTS

HARTFORD –State Senator Jorge Cabrera (D-Hamden) today voted for changes to the second year of Connecticut’s Fiscal Year 2026-2027 budget that delivers $190 million more in education aid to Connecticut’s cities and towns, another $100 million to cities and towns, $300 million for early childcare, and $30 million more for low-income health care – all while remaining balanced and under the state spending cap.

Senate Bill 1 was passed on a 30-6 bipartisan vote and immediately sent to the House of Representatives for final approval.

Sen. Cabrera welcomed the second-year budget adjustments, which will result in $158.55 million in total state aid this year for Ansonia, Beacon Falls, Bethany, Derby, Hamden, Naugatuck, and Woodbridge. That figure includes a 4.66% boost in education aid of $5.395 million for the entire district, including $2.22 million more for Hamden and $1.43 million more for Naugatuck.

“Every town has gone through or is going through a tough budget process. My hope is this additional state aid will make a difference in the quality of life for everyone – especially kids – over the next year,” Sen. Cabrera said.

Major, positive changes in the second year of the adjusted budget include:

• $152 million in increased aid for local boards of education in the form of an additional ECS grant. This $152 million increase will also be built into the ECS grant in FY 28, which begins on July 1, 2027.
• $20 million in additional funding to ensure that all school districts receive a minimum of a 2% increase in their ECS grant this year, regardless of student enrollment.
• $18 million in additional aid for magnet schools, the Open Choice program, charter schools, and vocational-technical schools.
• $100 million for state grants to cities and towns.
• A $30 million increase to the state’s HUSKY health care program on top of the $45 million already budgeted, resulting in a total $75 million increase. HUSKY Health provides comprehensive, no-cost or low-cost medical coverage to eligible low-income residents, children, seniors, and people with disabilities.
• A $300 million transfer of ‘volatile’ state revenue to the Early Childhood Endowment which helps families access child care, supports higher wages for educators, and improves child care facilities.

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