Hartford, CT: $70M district deficit; "historic decline in enrollment"-"rising SPED costs"

Mar 18, 2026, Hartford officials at odds about how to address $70M school budget deficit

HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) — Hartford city officials are working on how to avoid an impending $70 million budget deficit the school district will face this upcoming academic year.

The school district already faces a $22 million deficit, which Hartford Mayor Arunan Arulampalam said is due to rising special education costs, a significant drop in enrollment year after year and overspending by the school district. 

“We have seen a historic decline in enrollment. Just this year, 1,300 kids left our school district,” Arulampalam said. “And every time that happens, that increases the cost, because then, Hartford schools have to pay out to surrounding districts. We’ve got to pay for special education costs and transportation costs, and that means more dollars get pulled out of classrooms.” 

Hartford Public Schools Chief Financial Officer Caitlin Richard said the school district is asking the state to step in. 

“We are asking the legislature to establish rates for when we pay for services for special education, so that they are consistent and don’t rise every year,” she said. “The biggest thing rising in our budget is the special education tuition we pay to other districts and private providers, and that raises 8-10% every year, so beyond inflation.” . . .