State Budget Boosts Bethel Education Funding By Over $1 Million

BETHEL, CT — Bethel is set to receive more than $1.1 million in additional state aid under Connecticut’s finalized fiscal year 2026 and 2027 budget, a change that local officials say corrects years of underfunding in public education.

State Rep. Raghib Allie-Brennan announced Thursday that Bethel’s total statutory state aid will increase to $11,040,842 in FY 2026, up nearly 12 percent from $9,527,203 in FY 2025. The funding level is expected to remain steady in FY 2027, offering stability to the town’s financial planning.

“This funding doesn’t move us ahead, it just makes us whole,” Allie-Brennan said. “For years, Bethel was underfunded compared to other towns. This increase helps close that gap.”

The majority of the increase stems from adjustments to the Education Cost Sharing formula, the state’s main school funding mechanism. Allie-Brennan called the change a “long-overdue course correction” and said it will help relieve financial pressure at the local level.

“These are taxpayer dollars being returned to our town to help support our schools and relieve local pressure,” he said. “It’s not a bonus, it’s a fix.”

Superintendent Dr. Christine Carver noted that alongside the ECS funding increase, new legislation passed this session will enhance cost controls in special education and improve oversight of out-of-district placements, supporting both fiscal efficiency and quality of services.