CT Paid Leave finance committee advances FY2026–27 draft budget as fund balance tightens; review period shortened

The Connecticut Paid Leave Authority Finance and Audit Committee on March 27 heard a presentation on the draft fiscal year 2026–27 budget and voted to shorten the committee’s formal review period so the proposal can proceed to the board in May.

Dave, who led the presentation, outlined three budget components: an operating budget of about $17.5 million, a bond budget that will use roughly $300,000 this year, and a contribution budget built around expected payroll contributions. "The administrative fee is basically based on our total operating expenses for the year," Dave said, and he listed the operating-budget drivers: payroll and benefits ($11.4M), a contact center ($1.7M), outreach ($1.0M), software licenses ($917K), community engagement contractors ($757K), grievance adjudication ($215K) and fund-recovery fees ($207K). He said the operating headcount is budgeted to increase from 47 to 50 positions during the year.

Why it matters: committee members pressed staff about rising benefit payments and assumptions that determine solvency. The contribution budget assumes $504.1 million in payroll contributions,…