Rep. Callahan: Town To Lose Education Funding Under Proposed Budget

The House was in session last week to hear Governor Lamont’s budget address. This was the first step in a long process to draft a two-year budget for the state and it’s now in the hands of the Appropriations and the Finance, Revenue & Bonding Committees.

If no changes are made to the plan outlined by Lamont, New Fairfield stands to lose $1.3 million over the next two years in education funding. This is due to changes in the Education Cost Sharing (ECS) formula. The town cannot absorb that loss.

I am in touch with my colleagues on the Appropriations and Education committees, but I urge you to be engaged in the process too. The Appropriations Committee will be holding a series of public hearings on different parts of the budget.

The hearing on Elementary & Secondary Education will take place Thursday, February 20 at 3:00 P.M. in Room 2C of the Legislative Office Building and via Zoom. Registration will close on Wednesday, February 19, 2025 at 3:00 P.M. 

There are several ways for you to participate and make your voice heard.

In Writing – A form to submit written testimony, online, can be filled out by clicking a link on the left-hand side of each committee webpage.

Live Testimony – Most committees are hosting hybrid meetings, meaning you can testify in-person, in Hartford, or via Zoom from your computer. You can register to testify by clicking on ‘public hearing agendas‘ and selecting the date of the hearing. On each agenda there will be a link to a form to register to speak.