State Budget Is Kind To West Hartford: Legislators

WEST HARTFORD, CT — State officials representing West Hartford in the legislature said the recently approved state budget means millions more in aid.

The delegation is comprised of state Sen. Derek Slap, D-West Hartford; state Rep. Jillian Gilchrest, D-West Hartford; state Rep. Tammy Exum, D-West Hartford; state Rep. Kate Farrar, D-West Hartford; state Rep. James Sanchez, D-Hartford; and state Rep. Bobby Gibson, D-Bloomfield.

The delegation this week voted for a budget that provides an additional nearly $4 million in municipal aid for West Hartford and could provide $3 million more in special education reimbursements, wrote West Hartford's leaders this week in a joint statement.

“West Hartford has some of the greatest schools and services in Connecticut, and the new state budget will help ensure that they can be maintained without breaking the bank,” said the delegation in a joint statement.

“We regularly hear from residents that they love living in West Hartford, but they’re concerned about affordability. We get it. West Hartford is now set to receive one of the largest increases in special education funding among all the municipalities in the state. The additional investments help students, educators, and, of course, taxpayers.”

West Hartford's share

According to West Hartford's representatives, the state budget provides an additional total increase of $3,723,174 in state funding for West Hartford over the next two years, including an additional $314,782 in FY 2026 and FY 2027 for the newly developed Estimated Special Education and Expansion Development (SEED) Grant.

The town will receive:

• $25,567,128 in Education Cost Sharing (ECS), a 1.92 percent increase from the previous budget

• $6,691,291 each year in motor vehicle reimbursement rates, an increase of 13.91%.

In 2022, legislators passed a cap on the amount that a municipality can levy a motor vehicle tax, and the state provides a reimbursement for a portion of that lost revenue.

• $921,373 in each year for Town Aid Road (TAR), a 33.33% increase from the previous budget

• $805,784 in Municipal Grants-in-Aid, no change from the previous budget

• $677,699 in Local Capital Improvements (LoCIP), no change from the previous budget

• An additional $400,000 each year from the Supplemental Revenue Sharing Grant

• $155,785 in Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) in each year of the budget

• $27,820 each year from the Mashantucket Pequot & Mohegan Fund Grant, no change from the previous budget

Local officials were pleased with the figures.

“I want to thank our delegation for their hard work and advocacy throughout the budget process. The aid provided to West Hartford will serve our residents well, supporting vital services and helping us invest in the future of our community,” said West Hartford Mayor Shari Cantor.

“I am especially grateful for the state’s commitment to special education funding. These resources will go a long way in supporting our students, families, and teachers, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to succeed.”

For more information on West Hartford's share of the state budget, click on this link.