Senator Honig Votes to Approve FY ‘27 State Budget with New Education Aid for 8th District Residents

HARTFORD –Senator Paul Honig, D-Harwinton, 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 Honig voted for and welcomed the second-year budget adjustments, which will result in an additional $4.6 million in education funding for towns across the 8th District including more than $2.7 million in new funding for Torrington alone.

“Towns across the 8th District have been feeling the squeeze from rising costs, and this budget responds directly to that pressure,” Senator Honig said. “Torrington alone is receiving more than $2.7 million in new education funding, which translates to real relief for local taxpayers who have been shouldering more than their fair share. The additional $75 million for HUSKY Health is straightforward math: when families can afford to see a doctor, they stay healthier and out of emergency rooms, and that saves everyone money. Beyond the headline numbers, I’m proud that this budget delivers for communities across the district, from the Warner Theater to the Canton Town Hall elevator to the Simsbury Public Library, because investments like these are exactly what I came to Hartford to fight for.”

Local causes funded by the budget include:

• Warner Theater – $300,134
• Brooker Memorial – $100,000
• Roaring Brook Nature Center – $100,000
• Canton Economic Development – Bridge Street: repaving, engineering, improving public river access – $200,000
• Canton Town Hall elevator – $425,000
• Simsbury Farms Apple Barn renovation – $300,000
• Simsbury Public Library Teen Space renovation – $350,000
• Simsbury Eno Hall Upgrades – $150,000
• Barkhamsted – Old Ranger Station renovation on West River Road – $100,000
• Colebrook – Water Treatment at Community/Senior Center – $25,000
• Colebrook Community Center Van – $25,000
• Avon – sidewalk renovation – $140,000

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.