Nearly 100 Rally Against State Budget Cuts: “We Need a Budget That Puts People First” by The People's Budget Coalition New London
Contact:
The People’s Budget Coalition New London
(860) 574- 6038
Nearly 100 Rally Against State Budget Cuts: “We Need a Budget That Puts People First”
New London, CT – May 21, 2025 –
Concerned youth and other supporters attended a rally held by Hearing Youth Voices (HYV), The People’s Budget Coalition New London (PBCNL), F.R.E.S.H. New London (FRESH), Fiddleheads Food Co-op, and Working Families Power (WFP) to demand urgent action against state budget cuts as a necessary step toward a fair, people-centered financial future for New London. This was part of a statewide week of action for the CT for All Coalition.
The coalition is supporting a plan to suspend Connecticut's restrictive budget guardrails for the next two years–a move that would enable the state to reinvest in K-12 education, restore essential services, and protect working families from further harm and injustices. In New London, a loss in state revenue has been cited as a key factor in the fiscally lean budget passed this month. Among other things, the current budget may lead to a reduction of up to 30 New London Public Schools’ staff positions and the end of a popular public transportation service known as SmartRide.
The large group of students, school staff, parents, and community supporters marched from Bennie Dover Jackson Middle School to downtown, where several speakers shared the severe impact of state and local budget cuts.
“This flat funding shows how undervalued students are, and I’m here at this rally in support of removing the fiscal guardrails that stand in the way of services like education getting the funding they deserve,” stated high school senior and FRESH New London member Elvis Herrera.
Jazzy Brown, a high school junior and member of Hearing Youth Voices, shared, “Our schools are the backbone of our communities, shaping the minds of future leaders, innovators, and responsible citizens. However, flat funding our communities is what keeps our educational institutions struggling to provide the quality education our children deserve. Overcrowded classrooms, outdated textbooks, and a lack of essential resources have become the norm, especially at New London Public Schools, hindering the potential of our students and compromising our ability to compete in an increasingly competitive world.”
The New London Education Association, a local affiliate of the teachers' union, Connecticut Education Association (CEA), supported the rally. Representative Gregory Perry spoke in hopes of inspiring both State and City leadership to take action and increase funding for our local schools.
“We who actually support education, and support our youth, and support our teachers, are tired. Tired of having to fight this same fight again and again, but mostly, tired of hearing the same lip service from the people who hold the power to make a change. Tired of hearing “I support education” as you slash our budgets. “I support children,” as you pass budgets and policies that contradict your hollow words. Actions speak louder than words. These people here support our children.” He told the crowd of supporters that New London Public School teachers are among the lowest paid in the state, making it difficult to recruit or retain teachers because of this. And those cuts will hurt the most vulnerable students by decreasing support for Special Education Services, Multi Language Learning, and Transition Services.
The State of CT currently has a record surplus. They are slated to end the fiscal year in June with a surplus of $ 1.6 billion and over $4 billion in the reserve “rainy day” fund. Yet, the current budget includes a $2.5 million reduction in funds to New London, and the education cost share funding formula has not increased since 2013. Policies known as the fiscal guardrails include a spending cap and a volatility cap that keep the state from investing those surplus dollars in programs for youth and families. The coalition is asking for a suspension of those policies.
The coalition also asks the legislature’s Finance Committee to release a bold finance package that includes progressive revenue policies, providing long-term economic stability without sacrificing fiscal responsibility.
“This rally isn’t about numbers on a state budget–it is about a real future. Our schools, our young people, our families, and our community as a whole, deserve real investment, not unnecessary constraints,” said Nicole Broadus, Organizing Manager for Hearing Youth Voices and co-MC for the rally.
“Families across Connecticut have been burdened by staggering income inequality and insufficient funding of public services for years,” said Sarah Ganong, State Director of Working Families Power, a member of the CT for All Coalition. “The policies of the current Federal administration have made the situation for working families even more dire — so we’re calling on state and local leaders to step up and meet the moment. Regressive taxation hurts communities like New London especially hard: leaving less teachers and paraprofessionals in schools and fewer resources for families in need of social services. We must do better in New London and across Connecticut by pausing the fiscal roadblocks, increasing taxes on millionaires and billionaires, and using new revenue to fund state and local services.”
Connecticut FOR ALL is a statewide coalition of labor, community, and faith organizations (including People's Budget Coalition, Hearing Youth Voices, and Working Families Power) representing hundreds of thousands of people—black, brown, and white. WE STAND UNITED in a long-term mission to eliminate systemic inequalities and rebuild a better Connecticut.
Other speakers include youth from FRESH New London, New London Public School’s teacher Danielle Bergh, James Burke, New London resident and staff for CTWFP, and Obed Sierra from Connecticut for ALL.