State Budget Passes: Money for Schools, Towns and Health Care

The state Senate approved a new budget that will bring more money to schools, towns and health care. After weeks of public talks the lawmakers voted 30‑6, with all opposition from Republicans. The plan adds $180 million for education and $100 million to help struggling towns, hoping to keep local property taxes flat. The budget document is 717 pages long. It gives $152 million to share costs with public schools and another $10 million to raise school funding by at least 2 percent for every community. Magnet, charter and vocational schools get an extra $18 million, plus a program that lets kids attend schools outside their town to mix people of different backgrounds. These new funds sit on top of $2. 45 billion already shared among all 169 towns. Hartford gets the biggest share, $226 million, followed by Bridgeport at $212. 7 million, Waterbury at $201 million and New Haven at $170. 8 million. The Senate’s leader said the budget is “excellent” and that it meets municipal needs. He also praised the added money for Medicaid, which health workers say has been under‑funded. Republicans argued that the bill offers no direct tax relief and that it exceeds the spending cap.They claimed the budget would raise spending by 8 percent compared to last year, a point Democrats disputed. A Republican amendment that would cut spending and give tax breaks was rejected. The budget also plans to exempt sales tax on school supplies, saving taxpayers about $6 million. It will fund a child‑daycare endowment of $300 million and keep some one‑time grants for towns. No new child tax credit will be added, a disappointment to Democrats who had pushed for it. State workers receive raises: a 4. 5 percent increase, split into a 2. 5 percent base raise and a 2 percent step increase. Some unions say veteran workers are already stepped out and will miss the extra bump. Republicans worry that many state employees earn high wages, especially when overtime payments reach $378 million in 2024. The budget covers everything from salaries for over 42, 000 employees to dental care for prisoners. It also includes a quirky line about a Dolly Parton Imaginary Library through the United Way. The final vote was taken on a rare Saturday session, ending at midnight. Lawmakers will meet again to finish the House side of the budget before the next fiscal year starts on July 1.