New Haven, CT: District facing $8.5M deficit due to transportation, SPED costs

Oct 9, 2026,  WSFB,  Hartford: New Haven faces $8.5 million Board of Education deficit

New Haven closed out Fiscal Year 26 with a surplus on the city side, but the Board of Education is dealing with an $8.5 million deficit, according to officials.

Mayor Justin Elicker said transportation costs and special education costs are driving the increases on the Board of Education side.

He added that the city plans to use it’s $55 million rainy day fund to cover the deficit.

“The big picture across the state and we’ve recognize it, the governor recognized it by creating the Blue Ribbon Commission, is our schools need more money and that’s not just New Haven, its schools across the state,” he said.

New Haven’s superintendent told Eyewitness News the district has revised its budgets for transportation and overtime. . . .

 “What I’m looking at is options for us to smooth out some of the pain, so it’s not the residents of today, bearing all the burden of past challenges. Able to continue to deliver services, keep taxes at a reasonable rate and bear all this burden at once,” he continued.

A one-time $23 million increase in state money will help the Board of Education, but that funding is for fiscal year 27.