Mayor and Legislators Call for Audit of New Britain School System

New Britain’s Mayor and state legislators have called for, “an independent audit of the district’s budget practices, financial assumptions, and administrative spending decisions. Taxpayers, parents, educators, and staff deserve full transparency and accountability.”

Sen Rick Lopes (D-6), Rep Manny Sanchez (D-24), Rep David DeFronzo (D-26), Rep Iris Sanchez (D-25) and Rep Gary Turco (D-27) joined with Mayor Bobby Sanchez (D) to call for the audit, saying, “based on the decisions made in this process, we lack confidence in the Superintendent’s ability to lead the district through the serious financial and academic challenges ahead.”

The Consolidated School District of New Britain, led by Superintendent Anthony Gasper, proposed that the City increase its operating budget allocation to the school system by $18,971,610 to $146,971,610, saying that layoffs of school staff are potentially imminent. The school system’s website says that,

For the 2026-27 school year, CSDNB is now facing a proposed overall reduction in education funding that would be catastrophic for our district and the students we serve. Without substantial additional support from the State and City, the Board of Education will be forced to make significant reductions in staffing, programs, and student services.

But the Mayor and legislators said, “The children of New Britain deserve stability, honesty, and leadership focused on solutions. Unfortunately, the recent actions and public statements of the Superintendent have raised serious concerns about whether he is providing that leadership,” adding,

before the final amount of state funding is known, and before every internal option has been exhausted, layoff notices have been issued to teachers who serve our students every day well before the required notice date. That is unacceptable. Teachers should not be used as leverage in a political budget strategy. Before threatening classrooms, the district should have fully examined administrative reductions, operational efficiencies, non-classroom savings, and every other responsible alternative available.

“For years,” the legislators and Mayor said, “the New Britain delegation has delivered millions of dollars in additional education funding for our city, and this year is no different. The Mayor’s proposed budget increases the City’s recurring Minimum Budget Requirement by $1 million, creating a stronger permanent foundation for school funding. In addition, the delegation and Mayor are actively working with state leaders to secure millions more in education support for New Britain.”

The legislators and Mayor said Gasper’s comments, “reflect a fundamental misunderstanding of how the City budget is structured and how education funding is provided,” adding that, “With the Mayor’s proposed $1 million MBR increase and millions in anticipated additional state support, the remaining gap will be significantly reduced. Those facts should have guided a more responsible and measured approach.”

The legislators and Mayor pointedly added that, “It is easy to demand tens of millions of dollars from New Britain taxpayers when you do not personally bear the burden of those tax increases yourself while proposing a raise for yourself on an already nearly $300,000 salary.”

The legislators said that they plan to, “work in collaboration with the Board of Education to engage with the State,” in initiating the audit.

“New Britain students,” the Mayor and legislators said, “deserve leadership that is collaborative, solutions-oriented, fiscally responsible, and relentlessly focused on student outcomes. That is the standard our children deserve, and it is the standard we will continue to demand.”