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Education Committee Hearing
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| Last Friday, the Education Committee held its first public hearing where we discussed HB 5003, An Act Concerning Education Funding in Connecticut. The hearing lasted nearly 10 hours, and was full of vital testimony from educators, advocates, parents, and students who shared their thoughts on education funding in our state.
Our goal with this bill is to make sure that every student receives the same funding no matter where they live in our state. This would also ensure that municipalities have more stable fiscal outlooks when accounting for their budgets. I look forward to continuing our collaborative work with educators, advocates, parents, and students as we continue to address necessary funding for our schools.
Please feel free to watch sections - or the entire hearing - in the recording below. Specifically, I had an exchange with the Executive Director of the CT Charter Schools Organization that I hope shed some light on why many concerns regarding the new Education Cost Sharing formula were shared that day. If you would like to watch, that section starts at the 2:54 marker: |
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| During yesterday's session, we secured funding to continue investing in Connecticut's students.
By utilizing $60 million of federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding, we are able to ensure every child in Connecticut can access free school lunches for the remainder of the school year. Equitable access to proper nutrition in school is necessary to supporting a child's ability to learn and thrive.
Food insecurity is a very serious concern that many do not want to talk about or acknowledge, but the truth is that families everywhere are facing this worry every day - including families in the 114th District. While I am grateful that we had the resources to take this step in our schools, we need to continue this conversation to ensure that our neighbors always have enough to eat, especially our kids and seniors. |
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Special Education Funding
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| I would also like to highlight the more than $20 million pay-out to special education funding that has been allocated to schools across the state.
I am proud to have been able to deliver over $640,000 for Derby, Hamden, Orange, and Woodbridge's special education funding needs, ensuring that all committed funding increases were provided to our district.
Please find full allocation amounts - by town - below: |
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| As we continue to progress steadily through the current session, it is important that we continue build upon past legislative successes that have allowed Connecticut to keep moving forward.
Yesterday we voted to continue one of these successes by securing the fiscal guardrails that have allowed the state to cut taxes, invest in families and the economy, pay down debt, and save for the future
Thanks to our work, we have:
- Cut over $650 million in taxes
- Payed off billions in pension debt
- Invested in preschool education and children's mental health programs
We accomplished this while maintaining record savings for our rainy-day fund to continue our efforts for a fiscally responsible future. This fiscal year, we will continue to cut taxes for working families, reduce debt levels, save for the future and most importantly continue our commitment to invest in our communities. |
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| This is just a reminder that last week the Hamden Assessor's Office began accepting new applications for credits on real estate tax bills for qualifying elderly and/or disabled residents and local veteran residents.
Qualifications:
Elderly and Disabled Homeowners Program
- 65 years of age or over or totally disabled
- Own and reside in the home
- Have income of $49,100 or less for a married couple or $40,300 or less for a single person
- 2022 income tax filing must be provided
- *If income tax filing is no longer needed for you, please submit the Social Security Award Letter and any other 1099 income statements received*
- Applications will be accepted through May 15, 2023
State and Local Veterans Exemption Program
- Served, or be currently serving, on active duty for a minimum of 90 days during a time of war and have filed a notice of honorable discharge or active duty with the Town Clerk
- Have income of $49,100 or less for a married couple and $40,300 or less for a single person
- *Unless the veteran has a 100% VA rated disability rating*
- Taxable income information must be provided
- Applications will be accepted through September 30, 2023
How to Submit:
Please fill out an application by clicking here, fill out items 1 through 5, and print the document out. The rest of the application will be completed in person in the Assessor’s Office upon submission.
Applications must be submitted in person in the Assessor’s Office and remember to bring all appropriate income verification documents listed above.
- The Assessor’s Office is located on the 1st Floor (lower level) of Government Center, 2750 Dixwell Ave, Hamden, and is open from 8:30AM – 12:00PM and 2:00PM – 4:30PM Monday through Friday.
Please Note* Homeowners and veterans currently enrolled in a program and are due to reapply will receive a notice by mail.
For any questions or further information, please contact the Assessor’s Office at (203) 287-7128 or by email at assessors@hamden.com. |
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TEAM Community Needs Survey
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| TEAM, Inc. is working on there annual Community Needs Assessment and wants to hear from you!
Residents of Derby, Orange and Woodbridge are asked to take this short survey, which will clarify what resources we need in the community to better provide for residents like you. If you are willing, please click or scan the QR code below to take the survey. |
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