Dear Members of the Connecticut General Assembly,

As Executive Director of the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities (CCM), representing 167 cities and towns across our great state, I write to you with urgency—and on behalf of communities that are sounding the alarm.

Connecticut families are stretched thin. Property taxes are rising. Housing costs are surging. And voters are increasingly frustrated with a system that asks them to pay more while delivering less—especially when it comes to public education.

The Governor’s proposed budget does not meet this moment. It underfunds our schools, cuts programs that keep youth engaged and safe, and passes more of the burden to local taxpayers who are already at the breaking point. If this budget becomes law, it will deepen inequality, weaken our towns, and erode public trust in government.

Now is the time to act—and your voice is essential.

We’re asking you to stand up and urge the Appropriations Committee to deliver a budget that reflects our shared values: educational opportunity, equity, and economic fairness.

Here’s what’s at risk if we fail to act:

• A decade of inflation—ignored. The ECS formula’s foundation grant hasn’t been updated since 2013. Meanwhile, classrooms face rising costs every year. The Governor’s budget proposes a freeze—leaving students behind and schools under-resourced. In contrast, Massachusetts invests 40% more per student in its lowest-spending districts. Connecticut cannot afford to fall further behind.
• High-needs students, shortchanged. We need increased ECS weights for students with disabilities, multilingual learners, and low-income families. Anything less is an abandonment of equity.
• Summer jobs for at-risk youth—slashed. The Governor’s proposal would cut summer workforce programs in half—just when our communities need them most. For just $15 million more, we could eliminate the waiting list and give thousands of youth a shot at success.
• Disconnected youth, forgotten. SB 1511 offers a smart solution—creating Youth Success Oversight Boards to coordinate services across agencies. These aren’t luxuries; they’re lifelines.
• Municipal budgets are cracking. Without additional state support, towns will face impossible choices: raise property taxes even higher or make painful local cuts. Either way, families lose.

Let’s be clear: this is not a call for new taxes. This is a call for smarter, fairer investments—ones that strengthen public education, support our youth, and relieve pressure on the local property tax base.

Voters are paying attention. If the state fails to invest in what matters most, local governments will be forced to shoulder the burden—and public trust will suffer. We cannot allow that to happen.

Please, make your voice heard. Urge the Appropriations Committee to protect and expand education funding in this year’s budget. Our communities are counting on you.

Thank you for standing with our cities and towns. Thank you for standing with Connecticut families. And thank you for helping build a stronger, more equitable future for all.

With deep respect and urgency,
Joseph DeLong
Executive Director & CEO
Connecticut Conference of Municipalities