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

HARTFORD – Senator Pat Billie Miller, D-Stamford, 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 Miller voted for and welcomed the second-year budget adjustments, which will result in an additional $1.5 million in education funding for Stamford and Darien and a total of $3.25 million in additional town aid for the 27th District.

“This budget makes a clear commitment to the students and families who depend on our public schools to prepare them for success,” Senator Miller said. “The additional education funding for Stamford and Darien schools will make a real difference for the children in our classrooms and the educators who serve them every day. The budget also makes significant investments in early childhood education and child care which will help more families access the support they need during those critical early years. When we invest in education from infancy through high school graduation, we are choosing to build a more equitable Connecticut that ensures every child has the opportunity to thrive.”

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.