SENATOR OSTEN APPROVES FY ‘27 STATE BUDGET WITH NEW EDUCATION AID FOR
19TH SENATE DISTRICT RESIDENTS

HARTFORD –State Senator Cathy Osten (D-Sprague) 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. Osten welcomed the second-year budget adjustments, which will result in $135.85 million in total state aid this year – an increase of $18.6 million over last year – for Columbia, Franklin, Hebron, Lebanon, Ledyard, Lisbon, Marlborough, Montville, Norwich, and Sprague, including $7.79 million in new education aid.

“In this budget, every town is receiving an increase in education and municipal aid. It’s important that we return dollars to our communities,” said Sen. Osten, who is Senate Chair of the budget-writing Appropriations Committee.

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 childcare, supports higher wages for educators, and improves childcare facilities.

###