The views stated here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the editors of this newspaper. We welcome supporting or opposing views on any published item. Received September 14, 2026.
There is a simple idea behind fair government: if a community pays into the system, it should get a fair share back. The people of Chester, Deep River, Essex, and Haddam work hard, raise families, run businesses, and pay taxes to the State of Connecticut. We know that some of that money must be spent outside our towns. We all use state roads and services, and some communities need more help than others. But there should be a fair balance.
Our schools are a good example. The 36th District receives roughly $3,000 per student through Connecticut’s Education Cost Sharing program. Hartford receives nearly $14,000 per student. There are good reasons to give more help to communities with greater needs. The problem is how large that difference can become.
When the state gives our schools less money, the cost does not go away. Our towns still have teachers to pay, buildings to maintain, and children to educate. That money has to come from somewhere. Too often, it comes from higher local property taxes.
That makes the River Valley more expensive for everyone. It hurts young families trying to buy a home. It hurts working families already dealing with higher costs. And it hurts retirees who want to stay in the communities they have called home for decades. My friend Guy Tuccero, who’s running for the State House of Representatives for District 36, believes there is a simple way to make the system fairer without taking away the extra help that struggling communities need. First, every Connecticut community should receive a reasonable minimum amount of state education funding. That is the floor, the lower threshold of state funding. Next, fix the current formula structure so it’s streamlined, efficient and easy for municipalities to track. Most importantly, fix it to make sure the money goes to communities that need it and make sure the money is used wisely.
Finally, create a reasonable maximum so the difference between communities cannot continue to grow without limit. That is the ceiling. This does not mean every town gets the same amount. It means every town gets a fair starting point, while communities that need more help can still receive it. Guy Tuccero will fight to make sure more of the money our communities already send to Hartford, comes back home. The River Valley will always do its fair share. We simply ask Connecticut to do the same.
Donald Jarvi, Higganum
