Town to See $52k in State Supplemental Aid

Adam Minor

EASTFORD — Gov. Ned Lamont released a document on Sunday, May 3, containing a town-by-town breakdown of the increase in state funding that every school district and municipality in Connecticut will receive from the fiscal year 2027 budget adjustment legislation that received bipartisan approval on Saturday, May 2, in the Connecticut General Assembly.

According to Lamont, the increased support for school districts and municipalities is intended to close funding gaps in school budgets and town finances, providing some breathing room for local towns.

“By closing funding gaps for our schools and municipalities, we can help communities avoid raising property taxes while keeping classrooms running and local services strong,” Lamont said in the May 3 statement. “Affordability is a top priority for this administration, and this investment delivers real relief where people feel it most.”

Eastford will receive $37,888 in supplemental education aid and $14,635 in supplemental town aid, for a total of $52,523 in fiscal 2027.

Sen. Jeff Gordon (R-Woodstock) reacted to the funding after the announcement, stating that while the initial funding is a good start, there is much more that can be done.

“I have been fighting to bring more [Education Cost Sharing] funding to our towns because our students, schools, and taxpayers deserve better,” said Gordon. “This budget moves us in the right direction by increasing funding for our communities. … While it is not as much as I believe is needed, it is still a positive step forward and builds on the work I have been doing to improve how we fund education in Connecticut.”

Eastford Elementary School Superintendent Donna Leake, in a statement to the Communicator, expressed her gratitude for the extra funding.

“Money coming to the town that helps us maintain a great school district and relieves some of the burden on the taxpayers is always a wonderful event, especially for small rural districts like ours that are often overlooked,” Leake said.

First Selectman Deb Richards also added that the town will receive $14,635 from a Mashantucket Pequot/Mohegan Fund Grant, which will be deposited into the General Fund, and that while she appreciates the funding, it is not enough to make a significant impact in the short-term.

“I appreciate that legislators advocated for returning some funding to municipalities,” Richards said. “The total amount allocated to small towns is modest and unlikely to have a meaningful impact on local budgets or tax rates. In my view, this approach primarily benefits larger municipalities, while providing only limited support to smaller communities — not enough to make a significant difference.”

Comparing Eastford’s allotment of $52,523 to other towns in Windham County, Eastford will receive the lowest amount in the county, even lower than Union’s allotment of $75,790 ($38,171 Education; $37,619 Town) in nearby Tolland County.

Statewide, the top five towns receiving the most aid will be Hartford ($33,637,998); Bridgeport ($25,388,685); New Haven ($20,072,740); Waterbury ($19,889,913); and New Britain ($17,963,809). Eastford is 149th out of 169 towns, with only the towns of Westbrook, Franklin, Old Saybrook, Sherman, Woodbridge, Canaan, Easton, Norfolk, Goshen, Essex, Washington, Colebrook, Lyme, Morris, Kent, Weston, Sharon, Roxbury, Bridgewater, Cornwall, Warren, and Salisbury receiving less. Salisbury is receiving the least amount of aid, with a total of ($8,493). For the complete list, visit the State website here.

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