Consulting firm identifies factors driving Hartford Public Schools budget deficit

A consulting firm hired by the state board of education found that Hartford Public Schools’ (HPS) budgetary decision-making and forecasted assumptions contributed to this school year’s budget deficit.

Back in April, the state board of education said the district had a surplus, but an audit by CliftonLarsonAllen LLP released Thursday did not find extra money.

The audit found that the district exceeded its salary budget rate. HPS assumed a 6% vacancy rate for fiscal year 2026, but the district is currently experiencing a 3% vacancy rate, reflecting the filling of more teaching and professional positions than budgeted, according to the report.

The district also hired staff at compensation levels that met or exceeded the budgeted replacement rate. Hartford Public Schools chief financial officer, Caitlin Richard, said a new teacher contract was passed this year, raising salaries.

“Now we’re on par with some of the suburban districts, and so what that meant is we hired more teachers, even more than what we anticipated, which we were excited about, but it did have a budget impact,” she said. “Those teachers that we did hire were at higher experience levels than what we anticipated, which again, was good for kids, or hiring more teachers. They have more experience, but it had an impact on the budget because teachers have more experience, they’re paid higher salaries.”

The report also said the district lost some grant funding tied to enrollment when fewer students attended Hartford schools than the district had projected.

Richard said enrollment has been steady for the past few years and that they can’t predict when the number will drop.

CliftonLarsonAllen LLP is starting a forensic audit this Friday.  

“I think this is the fourth audit we’ve had in the past year from the state Department of Education,” Richard said. “I think across all of them, there’s only been like $400,000 found that we could save that we cut last year. I think that what I’d like to see is the attention really focus on how we stop having deficits.”

The superintendent has said legislation is needed to change what’s been costing the district millions, such as education and transportation costs for students who live in the city but choose not to attend Hartford schools.

A woman who graduated from the district said she’s grateful she stayed, but wishes her school had more resources.

“I had teachers that cared about me, they offered a lot of extracurricular activities,” said Taylor Roberston, Prince Tech Technical High School Class of 2019. “I think if we had more funding, they could do better things, upgrade the schools.”

That’s why the district is advocating for legislation to increase the amount of money it receives from the state annually.

Last week, the district outlined how they plan to close a $89 million deficit between fiscal year 2026 and 2027 using state and city funds.

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