Sen. Gordon Votes No on Appropriations Budget Over Lack of Needed Education Funding

HARTFORD, CT – State Senator Jeff Gordon (R-Woodstock) voted “NO” on the Appropriations Committee’s proposed budget because it fails to meaningfully increase funding for the Education Cost Sharing (ECS) grant, a critical source of state support for K-12 public education in the 35th District and across Connecticut. He also voted “NO” because the proposed budget is not balanced, was not fully vetted with the state’s revenue estimates, and misses key priorities like education funding support for our towns.

“The recent Appropriations Committee and Governor’s proposed budgets do not provide the ECS increases our towns need to keep up with rising education costs,” said Senator Gordon. “Without additional state support, residents will be burdened with higher property taxes to cover essential school funding. I cannot support a state budget proposal like that.”

The ECS grant is calculated based on a per-student foundation amount, which has not been updated since 2013. Currently set at $11,525 per student, real costs in 2026 are estimated at $16,650 per student, a gap of more than $5,000 per student. This year, Senator Gordon proposed legislation, Senate Bill 34, which would phase in ECS increases to help towns manage these costs without overburdening taxpayers. The Education Committee took up his bill to create a committee bill.

“Increasing ECS funding is not just about schools, it’s about fairness for towns and affordability for families,” said Senator Gordon. “Our state is facing an affordability crisis, and as legislators, we must act. A ‘NO’ vote on the Appropriations Committee budget is a vote against rising property taxes and a vote for education. We must do better, and we must support increased funding for the ECS grant.”

Senator Gordon noted that the Education Committee’s bill is a start, but does not go far enough.

Senator Gordon continues to work collaboratively to advance ECS funding reforms that support schools and reduce reliance on local property taxes. He has talked with many constituents, school officials, town officials, and others on this issue. He encourages Democratic leadership of the Legislature and the Governor to better address this issue.