Last month, Connecticut legislators officially wrapped up the 2025 legislative session and passed the state budget. But just days later, Governor Lamont announced that Connecticut had brought in nearly $190 million more in tax revenue than originally projected.

At first blush this might seem like an unexpected, but pleasant, surprise. You would be wrong. 

Over the past seven years in office, Governor Lamont has “found” an average of $285 million in the first 2 ½ months after lawmakers leave the Capitol. 

This totals over $1.5B in siphoned off revenue. 

$1.5B that could have and should have been allocated by our elected officials in our state budget, but instead were opaquely hidden from our electeds and the public alike. 

This year’s “surprise” revelation comes after a budget was passed that, despite strong advocacy from unions, educators, healthcare providers, and working families, failed to deliver the full investments our communities need. The budget was widely seen as a compromise that left critical needs underfunded—particularly in areas like special education, healthcare, mental health services, and direct relief for working families.

With this newly available $190 million, there is a clear opportunity to do better.

The state now has a chance to correct course. Lawmakers are preparing to return for a special session, originally intended to address several outstanding issues. 

We are calling on the General Assembly and Governor Lamont to allocate these additional funds toward the urgent needs that were not fully addressed in the final budget. These include:
  - Special Education: Many school districts are overwhelmed by rising costs and declining state support while our paraeducators are experiencing the brunt of burnout and low pay. 
  - State Agencies: Contracts covering the 45,000 state employees have expired, exacerbating the recruitment and retention challenges the state is experiencing.
  - Healthcare and Mental Health Services: Communities are facing growing needs for care, but providers remain underfunded and understaffed
   - Support for Working Families: Promised tax relief and funding for basic services must be made whole.

This is not about politics—it’s about priorities. Connecticut has the resources. What we need now is the will to invest them in the right places.

We know the needs in our communities haven’t changed—if anything, they’ve grown. Our public schools, healthcare providers, and working families are still facing the same challenges they were before this budget was passed. Now, with $190 million in newly available funds, lawmakers have a second chance to do what’s right.