Senator Gaston Delivers State Budget With Over Half A Billion for Bridgeport

Today, state Senator Herron Keyon Gaston (D-Bridgeport) gave final approval to a Democratic state budget that provides significant increases in state aid for Bridgeport.

The biennium budget includes over half a billion dollars in state funding for Bridgeport which includes $273.1 million in FY 26, which is an increase of $18.2 million, and $273.6 million in FY 27, which is an increase of $18.8 million. In FY 26 and FY 27 there is $212.7 million each year in funding to Bridgeport education. This is a total of $425.4 million in an increase of $11 million over FY 25.

“This budget delivers for Bridgeport in a big way—over half a billion dollars in state aid, including major investments in our schools, our families, and our future,” said Sen. Gaston. “Investing in education is one of the most critical steps we can take to secure Bridgeport’s future. Our students deserve the same opportunities as anyone in this state, and this funding helps level the playing field—providing essential resources, improving classroom experiences, and giving our kids the tools they need to succeed. It reflects our values by lifting up working people, supporting our most vulnerable, and making sure Bridgeport gets the resources we need to thrive. I’m proud to have helped pass a budget that puts people first.”

Investing in Our State

-A $250 tax refund for hundreds of thousands of workers with children through an expansion of the Earned Income Tax Credit program, which will benefit as many as 195,000 households – one out of every seven

-Projected state surpluses and continued investment in the state’s Budget Reserve Fund

-A total of $2.4 billion in Education Cost Sharing grant investment, with $186 million of new investments for the two-year period; this includes “holding harmless” 81 towns that would have seen a decrease in ECS funding

-$80 million in additional special education cost savings and $75 million in additional new special education funding for a total of $442 million in special education excess cost spending

-Investing $76 million in nonprofits in the second year of the budget to support worker wages

-Tax credits supporting refundable personal income tax credits for home daycare owners and farm investments

-Fully funding Medicaid, with more than $400 million in increased funding to support the program 900,000 Connecticut residents rely on

-Investing $7 million in Connecticut Foodshare, helping feed hungry Connecticut families

-Investing $3 million in heating assistance as federal programs may see funding reductions