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Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
CT Dems move toward free child care. Republicans say it's the end of fiscal stability
After years of work, state legislators voted Saturday evening to approve landmark legislation to fund an endowment account to create more affordable child care in Connecticut by 2032. Lawmakers agreed with Gov. Ned Lamont to set aside as much as $300 million per year from the state's future budget surpluses in order to create a large endowment fund that would be invested by the state treasurer and could grow in future years. This year's allocation is expected to be $200 million, based on the size of the surplus. The debate started at noon in a rare Saturday session, which essentially happens one day each year at the end of the legislative session. The bill passed on strict party lines, by 101 to 45, at 5:30 p.m. after five hours of debate. The measure had been approved the previous day on a bipartisan basis in the state Senate by 32 – 4. Democrats hailed the plan for 'affordable and accessible' child care, but Republicans questioned the use of large amounts of money for an off-budget account instead of allocating more money for the state's unfunded liabilities like pensions for state employees and public school teachers. Under the plan, families earning $100,000 or less would pay nothing for child care starting in 2028, as it would be paid by the endowment, lawmakers said. 'I think it's the most important initiative we have in this budget,' Lamont said Saturday at the state Capitol in Hartford. 'If I can get universal early childhood free of charge for every family under $100,000, it's great for the kids. It helps mom and dad get back to work. It helps with affordability.' State Rep. Jennifer Leeper, a Fairfield Democrat who co-chairs the education committee, said the legislature would be 'achieving something many people thought would never be possible.' The legislation is known as Senate Bill 1 to show that it is the highest priority for Senate Democrats, who control the numbers of the bills. A key feature is that the measure establishes an early childhood endowment fund with a national model in a move to bring down the cost of early childhood for families. But House Republican leader Vincent Candelora of North Branford said creating an off-budget endowment fund was a mistake that lawmakers would see in future years. 'It really is the beginning of the end of good fiscal practices,' Candelora told reporters before the debate. 'They are turning the faucet off on Connecticut paying down its unfunded liabilities. The glory days are over of paying down unfunded liabilities. … This legislation right now is doing away with surpluses as we know it.' Candelora, who said he was surprised that there was not more Republican opposition in the Senate, said many members of the House caucus were opposed to the bill. The debate was delayed Saturday afternoon when Rep. Tina Courpas, a freshman Greenwich Republican who graduated from Columbia University Law School, asserted on the House floor that the bill required a three-fifths vote to pass because uses of the state's surplus funds are heavily restricted unless there is a 60% vote. The Democrats initially told Courpas twice on the floor that she was wrong, but then House Speaker Matt Ritter of Hartford consulted with colleagues before ruling that Courpas was, in fact, correct. 'I have grave concerns about this bill,' Courpas said on the House floor. 'More importantly, the financial aspects of this bill concern me greatly. … The very things that put our state on a better fiscal path are on the table in this bill. … This is a bill which takes a very radical step, hence the three-fifths vote. … I ask the chamber really to consider what is at stake here.' The goal by lawmakers is that the endowment would help pay the costs to create 16,000 spaces for preschool, infants, and toddlers by 2030. While those under $100,000 would be free, those earning more than $100,000 would not pay more than 7% of their household income, lawmakers said. 'Our kids are our most important gifts,' Rep. Lezlye Zupkus, the ranking House Republican on the education committee, said during Saturday's debate. 'They are our leaders of tomorrow.' Zupkus gave examples on the House floor of students who need assistance. During a tour at a public school in New Haven, Zupkus said that she asked about a 5-year-old girl who was a student in the school. 'She saw her father murder her mother,' Zupkus said she was told. 'That's heavy. … I always keep that little girl in the back of my mind.' The multi-faceted bill calls for pay increases for child care workers, who historically make low salaries. This year, an estimated $200 million is expected to be placed into the endowment fund, lawmakers said. The maximum under the bill is $300 million, but that will depend on the size of the state surplus each year. In the first two years, officials could spend a maximum of 12% of the fund. 'We do view this as a sustainable source of funds,' said Rep. Kate Farrar, a West Hartford Democrat who outlined the bill on the House floor. The omnibus bill also includes sections on special education, which are combined with additional provisions in House Bill 5001, which is another high-priority bill. 'I struggle with our state because we want to fund everything,' Zupkus said of the costs. 'We have to pick and choose. … I do struggle with all of this funding and ensuring it is put to the best use.' With costs reaching more than $100,000 per year for some students, Lamont called this year for an additional $54 million for special education to help Connecticut communities shoulder the cost. Lamont and the state legislature both earmarked special education this year as a high priority and a renewed area of interest, noting that expenses have been rising for services. Part of the focus is to keep students in their own district, rather than sending them by bus as much as an hour away for specialized programs for which tuition and transportation costs can reach as high as $200,000 per student, officials said. The plan calls for $14 million in competitive grants for in-district programs, plus $40 million in the second year of the two-year budget for 'excess costs' for the most expensive cases. Out of 512,652 students in the public schools statewide, more than 92,000 students, or 18%, are in special education classes. The state and federal governments are spending a combined $324 million annually for the 92,000 students, officials said. Some communities, such as Hartford, have more students in special education and subsequently costs that are higher than the state average. About 80% of all transportation costs in the Hartford schools are for out-of-district trips. While about 20% of Hartford students are in special education classes, the high costs mean that 31.6% of the overall school budget is for special education, according to Mayor Arunan Arulampalam. On Friday night, senators passed the same measure after a long debate. 'Parents have been telling us that child care is unaffordable, and municipalities have been clear they need help with special education. Senate Bill 1 tackles both,' said Senate majority leader Bob Duff, a Norwalk Democrat. 'We're taking sustainable steps toward universal child care so parents can stay in the workforce without breaking the bank. And we're overhauling special education to bring more oversight, more efficiency, and a system that actually works for families and educators.' During the debate, Sen. Ryan Fazio, a Greenwich Republican who voted against the overall bill, offered an amendment that would have created a scholarship fund to help low-income students to attend either public or private schools. Test scores, he said, have dropped 'over the last 10 years or so,' particularly in lower-income areas. 'This is a simple and straightforward amendment,' said Fazio, who also represents parts of Stamford and New Canaan. 'It creates more options and more hope for families and students who need it the most.' The amendment failed along strict party lines at 7:45 p.m. Friday with Republicans in favor and Democrats against. Sen. Doug McCrory of Hartford, a longtime educator, said the overall bill will help students, particularly in lower-income areas. 'Right now, families in underserved communities have fewer child care options and face higher barriers to access. Senate Bill 1 is designed with equity in mind,' said McCrory, who co-chairs the education committee. 'It ensures that funding doesn't just flow to the communities that can afford to pay more, but reaches the families who need it most. Every child deserves the same strong start, no matter where they live.' Christopher Keating can be reached at ckeating@
Yahoo
20 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
CT city awarded $450K+ for a new, inclusive playground for children with disabilities
Newington has been awarded a $485,000 grant to build a new, inclusive playground at Candlewyck Park, town officials said. The town project, announced by Gov. Ned Lamont on Friday, is part of a $30 million package distributed to 46 small towns across Connecticut for capital improvement projects focused on infrastructure, community development and quality-of-life upgrades. The Candlewyck Park project will be matched by $121,365 in local funding, bringing the total project cost to $606,976, officials said. The grants are all part of the state's Small Town Economic Assistance Program. 'We are incredibly grateful to Governor Lamont and his staff for their support for this important infrastructure project,' said Newington Mayor Jon Trister. 'This grant will help establish a state-of-the-art playground and play space for the residents of the Candlewyck neighborhood. We are thrilled with this announcement.' The new playground will feature accessible play elements for all children, regardless of ability. Officials said the project also supports the town's long-term commitment to neighborhood revitalization and inclusive park access throughout Newington. 'The Newington Parks and Recreation Department happily announces that Governor Lamont and the State Legislature have awarded the town of Newington this critical funding to replace the outdated playground equipment in the Lamplighter Lane area,' said Don Woods, chair of the town's parks and recreation board. 'This grant allows us to move forward with the second and final stage of renovations at Candlewyck Park.' The Candlewyck Park project builds upon the town's ongoing work to enhance parks town wide. In recent years, the town has completed major renovations at Mill Pond Park Playground, Churchill Park Playground, Clem Lemire Playground, Beacon Park Playground, Beechwood Park Playground, Eagle Park Playground, and Seymour Park Playground. For additional information on the Candlewyck Park inclusive playground or other ongoing projects, contact the Newington Parks and Recreation Department at 860-665-8666 or visit
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Ashford, Hampton, Scotland receive state grant funding
Governor Ned Lamont announced the release of state grant funds to benefit improvements in several municipalities, including four local towns. Through the Small Town Economic Assistance Program, the Office of Policy and Management and the State Bond Commission, towns can apply to receive funding and commit a percentage of local monies to complete projects. 'Our small towns are an important part of what makes Connecticut such a special place to live and work,' Lamont said. 'By partnering with each town, we can help get these infrastructure projects completed so these towns can continue to thrive, remain competitive, attract businesses and improve the quality of life for our residents.' Locally, Ashford was granted $400,000 for repaving at the Public Works Facility, with the town contributing $104,701, and Franklin received $100,000 for engineering and acquiring a generator for an emergency shelter at the Franklin Elementary School, matched by $20,000 from local funds. The Town of Hampton applied for funds for the reconstruction of Windham Road, receiving $500,000 and matching $220,000. Scotland was awarded $248,651 for improvements to the community hall at the Public Safety Complex, with taxpayers contributing $27,628. In all, 46 towns received approximately $30 million dollars in funding.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Gov. Lamont: Budget on the ‘1-yard line'
HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) — Gov. Ned Lamont said a deal on the next two-year state budget is 'virtually there.' Lamont has been in closed-door negotiations with the Democratic leaders of the state legislature for several days now hammering out the details of the spending plan. Connecticut lawmakers 'close to a deal' on two-year state budget, Speaker Matt Ritter says This is the centerpiece of the legislative session is the culmination of months of deliberation.A two-year, budget over $50 billion dollar that funds everything from Medicaid to UConn to the state police to aid that local school districts rely on. The overarching issue is how to reconcile differences between the governor and his fellow democrats in the legislature over how much to increase spending by. Democrats wanted to present increases that were larger than the ones put forth by Gov. Lamont. Watch the video in the player above. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Lamont, State Democrats battling over length of budget
HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) — There's a budget battle brewing at the state Capitol. Gov. Ned Lamont and his fellow Democrats in the legislature both came out Wednesday with rivaling views of what the state's next budget should look like. The legislative Democrats want to increase spending by more than what Gov. Lamont wants. And the legislative Democrats are now pushing the idea of passing a one-year state budget instead of the normal two-year state budget. The reasons they want to do a one-year budget rather than a two-year budget are very technical. But the basic point is this: they want more flexibility when it comes to the state's system of spending controls, specifically the legal cap on state spending that is supposed to set a hard ceiling on the budget. They believe if they have to do a two-year budget, the constraints of the state's system of spending controls, paired with any funding cuts from Washington D.C., would put them in a position of having to potentially pull back on spending on priorities like education. They're being very assertive in making that argument. 'The legislative branch is not backup singers,' State House Speaker Matt Ritter (D-1st) said. It is a co-equal branch of government and it's not going to just bend a knee because somebody says on a sheet of paper, 'Just make these cuts and we're gonna go home.' There are opinions in there. Passionate opinions. And we have the tough job of threading that needle, and the needle right now, I believe, is a one-year budget.' Gov. Lamont does not seem friendly to the idea of a one-year budget. 'If we can find some common ground — meet in the middle,' Gov. Lamont said. We're not talking about cuts, we're talking about how much we increase. I think we can give the taxpayers of the state of Connecticut the confidence that we've got an honestly balanced two-year budget just like we've done for the last 40 years.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
