The following opinion essay was written by Eli Sabin, one of three candidates running in the Aug. 11 Democratic primary for the 92nd State House District. Our public schools need more resources. We need more paraprofessionals, guidance counselors, nurses, and librarians. We need to fix HVAC syst ems so schools don’t have to close on hot days. Our teachers and paras deserve a raise. Our residents also need relief from high property taxes. The city’s property tax rate has risen in recent years, and the latest revaluation could raise many homeowners’ tax bills  These problems are connected. Solving both will require the state to strengthen its commitment to public education. Winning that fight will demand new coalitions between urban, rural, and suburban towns, built on a shared vision for better-funded schools and more transparent Boards of Education. A Decade of Stagnant State Education Funding Roughly 30 percent of New Haven’s city budget supports schools. This burden falls on property taxpayers because state funding hasn’t kept up with the cost of educating our kids. Yale and Yale New Haven Hospital’s property tax exemption worsens the problem. Since 2013, the state’s investment in public schools, distributed using the Education Cost Sharing formula, has been frozen at $11,525 per student. Today, New Haven spends nearly $22,000 per student. For 2026–27, Connecticut is providing temporary supplemental aid above the $11,525 amount — but that’s only a one-year boost to about $13,000. If the state’s per-student grant had kept pace with inflation since 2013, it would be around $16,000 today. That higher base would help close the $55 million staffing gap estimated for the New Haven Public Schools. It would also ease the cost burden on property taxpayers, which is pushing many residents, especially seniors, out of our neighborhoods. One of my top priorities is raising the state’s grant to $16,000 per student and tying it to inflation. Increasing state education aid would support our kids and lower property taxes. Connecticut can use part of its budget surplus for this purpose, while building a revenue base by adjusting fiscal controls and raising taxes on incomes above $1 million. The Costs of Underfunding Our Schools While I was knocking on doors last month, the mother of a child with special needs told me her family was thinking about leaving New Haven because her son wasn’t getting the support he needs in school. She was in despair.  Every year state funding falls further behind the cost of educating our kids, more children miss out on the opportunities they deserve, and more families face impossible choices. That is not acceptable. We can do better. Building a Statewide Coalition The case for more education funding isn’t just a New Haven story. Many rural and suburban taxpayers feel the same squeeze through higher mill rates, deferred maintenance, and staff shortages. In the legislature, I will work to build coalitions across urban, suburban, and rural communities for public education funding. Governor Lamont’s new commission on education funding makes this the moment for legislators to fight for bold changes to the Education Cost Sharing formula and a more sustainable funding system. Investment Requires Accountability Securing a lasting increase in state funding requires districts to improve budget transparency and build public confidence to support new state investment. For example, special-education and transportation costs are rising. Districts should clearly explain the causes, costs, and plans to manage these budget drivers.  Line-item budgets, long-term facilities plans, and clearer projections for enrollment, special education, and transportation will help communities understand what schools need. More transparency and planning will build faith in school budgeting, making it easier to build the coalitions needed to secure increased funding. Some of this work is already happening in New Haven and elsewhere. That progress deserves support. The Work Ahead Education is the foundation of our state’s future. Every Connecticut child deserves a school with adequate resources, well-supported teachers, and a safe, well-maintained building. By raising per-student funding, tying it to inflation, and improving budget transparency, we can better fund our schools, ease the burden on taxpayers, and build an enduring coalition to support public education. The mother I spoke with shouldn’t have to fear that her city and state won’t come through for her son. She should know that we will. The post Opinion: A Vision For Our Public Schools appeared first on New Haven Independent. ...read more read less