Sen. Cicarella Votes to Fund Municipalities for Special Ed Programs, Cautions on Budget Gimmicks  

Supports GOP amendment for $92.2 million package, defeated by Senate Democrats

Senior Deputy Republican Leader Paul Cicarella (R-North Haven) today championed a Senate Republican effort to fully fund local special education programs through an amendment for a $92.2 million investment, while adhering to the state’s long-revered bipartisan budget guardrails to maintain a stable budget.

The Republican amendment, with some Democrat support, to H.B. 7163 was defeated.

Last week, Senate Republicans backed a similar measure during the Senate’s Feb. 25 legislative session. Under threat of veto from Gov. Ned Lamont, the bill returned to both legislative chambers, this time with an alternate funding mechanism that draws funds from an off-budget account that is outside of the budget process. As a result, Sen. Cicarella opposed the legislation as written.

“Last week, the senate supported the $40 million that our towns desperately need for special education. I understand the challenges local budgets face with so many unknowns, and no one wants to see cuts to teachers, school programs, or student services.

“We are here to be responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars. Our amendment would have fully funded special education while maintaining fiscal guardrails. If we start bending those limits now, where does it end? Unfortunately, instead of taking a commonsense approach, legislative Democrats are using special education funding as a vehicle to justify future uncontrolled spending. The silver lining is that the funding will arrive, but it should have been delivered the right way. My question is: Why was it done this way, and what is this the start of? Because of this, I could not in good conscience support this measure.”