Senator Hochadel Votes to Approve FY ‘27 State Budget with New Education Aid for 13th District Residents
HARTFORD –Senator Jan Hochadel, D-Meriden, voted Saturday for changes to the second year of the Connecticut’s Fiscal Year 2026-2027 budget that delivers $190 million more in education aid to municipalities, 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 vote and immediately sent to the House of Representatives for final approval.
Senator Hochadel voted for and welcomed the second-year budget adjustments, which will result in an additional $11.3 million in education funding for towns across the 13th District. The budget will bring nearly $19.9 million more in town aid to the district.
The budget also funds a legislative priority of Senator Hochadel’s: a new caregiver’s tax credit to help those caring for seniors aging at home. The credit will apply to half of caregiving expenses, up to $2,000, incurred by residents caring for a family member age 55 or older in their home. In order to be eligible, a resident must earn less than $50,000 or $100,000 for households filing jointly.
“This budget delivers much needed relief to the towns I represent, and for Meriden that relief is not abstract,” Senator Hochadel said. “Without this additional funding, we would have been staring down an $8 million education budget hole and considering the possible closure of Thomas Hooker Elementary School along with reductions in the staff our students and families depend on. This budget steps in and delivers, with more than $11 million in new education funding for the district, nearly $19.9 million in additional town aid, and a caregiver tax credit that I have fought for through the Aging Committee, because families should not have to choose between their financial security and keeping a parent or grandparent safely at home. There is so much in this bill to be proud of, and I am grateful that Connecticut is choosing to invest in its people.”
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.