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When Governor Ned Lamont and Fairfield’s state representatives celebrated a 75% state reimbursement for the Dwight Elementary School rebuild, it was good news for Fairfield taxpayers. No one should begrudge Fairfield’s students a safe, modern school. Dwight has had longstanding concerns involving air quality, aging infrastructure, early childhood education, and special education space.
But the announcement should raise an obvious question in Greenwich:
Why does Fairfield receive a 75% reimbursement while Greenwich’s Central Middle School rebuild receives only 20%?
The contrast is striking.
According to Greenwich Time, Greenwich’s Central Middle School project is expected to cost roughly $112 million. The town had initially expected only a 6.9% reimbursement, or about $7.7 million, before Greenwich’s state delegation secured a 20% rate, bringing the expected reimbursement to about $22 million.
That was presented as a win, and compared to 6.9%, it was.
But now compare that to Fairfield.
According to CT Insider, Fairfield’s Dwight Elementary School rebuild is projected to cost roughly $76 million, and the state has agreed to reimburse 75% of the project. Fairfield’s state representatives also announced that this amounts to roughly $57 million in state aid.
Put another way, Fairfield’s school project costs far less than Greenwich’s, yet Fairfield is receiving more than twice the state dollars.
For Greenwich taxpayers, that means the town is still expected to carry roughly 80% of the Central Middle School burden. For Fairfield taxpayers, the state is expected to carry roughly 25% of the Dwight burden.
That is not a small difference. That is a completely different deal.
This comes as House Representatives Steve Meskers and Hector Arzeno have also touted an additional $8 million boost for the Old Greenwich School renovation. The Greenwich Democratic Town Committee stated that Arzeno and Meskers secured an additional 15% reimbursement rate tied to the inclusion of pre-K classrooms, unlocking more than $8 million in additional state funding. Greenwich Free Press also reported that the change came after an amendment allowed the Old Greenwich School project to qualify despite a prior technicality tied to the project’s application date.
That money matters. Any additional reimbursement that reduces pressure on Greenwich taxpayers is welcome.
But the bigger issue remains: if Hartford can find special flexibility, special language, and enhanced reimbursement for some projects, then Greenwich should not be expected to celebrate partial relief while other towns receive far more generous deals.
The demographic comparison makes the question even more important. Greenwich and Fairfield are similar-sized Fairfield County communities. According to U.S. Census QuickFacts, Greenwich has an estimated 2025 population of 64,801, while Fairfield has an estimated 2025 population of 66,262. Both are high-performing, high-cost, highly educated towns with strong public school systems and substantial property tax burdens.
Yes, Greenwich has a higher median household income: about $206,130 compared to Fairfield’s roughly $172,432. Greenwich also has a far higher median owner-occupied home value, about $1.7 million compared to Fairfield’s roughly $780,500.
But that does not tell the whole story.
Greenwich is far more diverse and economically diverse than many in Hartford seem willing to admit. It is not just home to hedge funds and billionaires.
According to U.S. Census QuickFacts:
Greenwich has seniors, renters, working families, small business owners, municipal employees, young families, immigrants, first-generation Americans, and taxpayers who are being asked to absorb enormous local capital costs.
In other words, the assumption that “Greenwich can just pay for it” is lazy public policy, and it is time for Hartford to know that.
Connecticut’s school construction reimbursement formula is supposed to take municipal wealth into account. The Connecticut Department of Administrative Services explains that reimbursement rates are calculated annually using a statutory formula that starts with the adjusted equalized net grand list per capita, known as AENGLC, as a measure of municipal wealth. The same state page also explains that there are special reimbursement opportunities for projects that meet certain statutory criteria, including early childhood programming.
That is exactly the point.
When Hartford can create special outcomes, waivers, incentives, and enhanced reimbursement rates, Greenwich has every right to demand transparency and fairness.
*This is not about taking anything away from Fairfield. Fairfield’s representatives did their job. They fought for their town. They made the case that Dwight Elementary needed state support, and they delivered a major win for their taxpayers.
The question is whether Greenwich’s taxpayers are getting the same level of urgency from Hartford.
Greenwich sends a tremendous amount of tax revenue to the State of Connecticut. Greenwich helps fund the state budget, state programs, state borrowing, and state aid that flows to other communities. Yet when Greenwich needs help replacing aging school buildings, it is too often treated as if it should simply be grateful for whatever it gets back.
That is not fairness. That is not accountability. That is not a serious way to govern.
The Central Middle School rebuild is not a luxury project. Old Greenwich School is not a luxury project. These are major public infrastructure projects for students, teachers, families, and the community. Like Fairfield’s Dwight project, they involve health, safety, educational adequacy, long-term planning, and taxpayer impact.
If Fairfield can receive a 75% reimbursement for a school rebuild, Greenwich should not be told that 20% is the best Hartford can do.
Connecticut needs a clearer, fairer, and more transparent school construction reimbursement system. Special reimbursement rates should not appear to depend on political influence, committee assignments, budget negotiations, or who has the most leverage in Hartford. If early childhood education, special education programming, air quality, safety, and modernization justify enhanced reimbursement in one town, then the same standards should be available to every town that meets them.
Greenwich taxpayers deserve more than polite thank-yous and partial relief. They deserve representatives who will fight for every dollar, demand equal treatment, and make sure Hartford remembers that Greenwich is part of Connecticut too.
Fairfield fought and won a 75% reimbursement.
Greenwich should not be stuck footing the bill.
Greenwich deserves its fair share.
Jonathan Goldstein is running to represent Greenwich’s 150th District. Greenwich deserves more than announcements and press releases. Greenwich deserves a representative who will fight for our fair share, demand equal treatment, and stop allowing Hartford to treat our taxpayers as a blank check. His website is www.goldsteinforct.com
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