There is a wider range of public school enrollment than population. East Hartford has 6,500 students, West Haven 7,500 and Meriden 8,600. That is the second highest level of burden as indicated by several indicators measuring poverty, parental education, single parent families, and non-English language homes. The three cities spend almost the same when measured on a per capita basis. However, East Hartford taxpayers pay significantly more in local property taxes to support the same level of spending.
State aid explains the difference in local property tax burden.
East Hartford receives much less state support no matter how measured. As a result, the state supplies only 24 percent of East Hartford's revenues as compared to 37 percent in West Haven and 35.7 percent in Meriden. East Hartford's advantage in local tax base is commercial property. These commercial tax payers are the revenue source that enable East Hartford to have a similar mill rate to Meriden and West Haven, while spending as much as the other two communities but supported by lower state aid. Despite its commercial property advantage, East Hartford's situation does pose questions over the fairness of state aid levels.