Connecticut Democrats Push for $170M School Funding

0:00It's April 21st. This is Hartford News Today, powered by AI. House Democrats and can dedicate are pushing for $170 million extra for public schools this year through the education cost, sharing grant. That's up from the $150 million they floated last month, and well above Governor Ned Lamont's $100 million offer from Thursday. Speaker Matt Ritter says he's confident they can convince the governor to go along, whether it fits in the main budget or a separate fund. Republicans counter with a plan for $35 million more, but it hinges on winning a tax fight with New York and cutting health, coverage for some undocumented folks. Municipal leaders rallied at the state house, slamming the $100 million as barely passing and calling for at least $180 million as a minimum. They say school costs, especially for special education and insurance, are skyrocketing way faster than state aid, forcing towns to hide property, taxes, or slash services. Advocates worry it could be a one-time deal, but Ritter insists it won't be, and it might

1:03even tap into the $500 million set aside for two. $100 election season rebates. No one's fixing the broken funding formula tied to enrollment this year, leaving small towns short-changed. With a new Blue Ribbon Commission just launched to study all this and report back in January 2027, lawmakers hope more cash now buys. Times have really tackled the crisis without short-changing kids or families.