Letter: Concerning the BOE Proposed Budget
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To the Editor of We-Ha.com,
West Hartford is at a financial crossroads, and the proposed 2026-2027 Board of Education budget demands serious reconsideration.
A 7.0% increase – nearly $15 million – follows two consecutive years of unusually high growth. In just three years, the school budget will have risen roughly 20%, far exceeding the historical average of under 2%. At this pace, spending will double in about 12 years. That is not sustainable for taxpayers or for the long-term health of our town.Predictably, when concerns like these are raised, the response is often: “What programs would you cut?” That is a false choice – a trap question designed to discourage scrutiny and fear responsible decision-making. The reality is that meaningful savings can be achieved without cutting core programs.
As outlined by Town Councilor Dr. Jason Wang, there are clear opportunities to reduce waste and improve efficiency: rebalancing staffing toward classroom teachers, controlling administrative and support growth, addressing rapidly rising health insurance costs, evaluating transportation strategies, and reassessing excessive technology spending. These are bi-partisan structural issues – not classroom cuts.
West Hartford’s spending growth already outpaces comparable towns with similar outcomes. Meanwhile, key cost drivers continue to rise faster than inflation and enrollment, with no adoption of zero-based budgeting for certain departments or a clear long-term cost control strategy.
Unchecked growth will lead to higher property taxes, placing increasing pressure on residents and threatening long-term affordability.
The Board of Education and Town Council should reject or significantly revise this budget to a more sustainable level. We can protect educational quality while demanding accountability. West Hartford is smart enough to do both – and must.
Shawn Daly
West Hartford
(Shawn Daly is chair of the West Hartford Republican Town Committee)
