Rep. Ackert Addresses Residents’ Concerns During Coventry Town Hall

HARTFORD- State Rep. Tim Ackert (R-8) met with Coventry residents to discuss issues currently being identified within the legislature and to provide answers to their local and statewide concerns.

During Tuesday night’s Town Hall meeting, Rep. Ackert detailed recent changes to the State Senate and House of Representatives, the new committee assignments, and upcoming bill proposals.

“My job is to represent everyone in my district regardless of their political affiliation,” Ackert said. “For those who couldn’t attend please don’t hesitate to contact me.”

The topic of Connecticut’s economy and uncertain future was the most talked about item of the evening. “I am also extremely concerned with the potential reduction in state funding to the towns which will have the potential to increase property taxes,” he said. “This is something I have been working against since I took office.”

“The problem I have with our state budget is that we continue to overestimate our state revenue projections and therefore it never meets the state plan for spending. It’s time to go back to the drawing board and craft a budget that we can have available funds for and can afford,” Rep. Ackert said.

Coventry residents also reiterated their growing concerns with the current social security format for educators, IRA pensions, and ongoing Crumbling Foundations. Many homes within the community have been built using pyrrhotite, an iron sulfide material which has led to foundations falling apart. According to Ackert, the Crumbling Foundations issue many homes in Coventry are experiencing could carry a hefty price tag ranging anywhere from four to ten billion dollars to fix those affected.

“There are foundations falling apart in homes that shouldn’t have this issue, and most people don’t know if they even have this problem to begin with because they can’t afford the $2,000 to $4,000 needed to have their homes tested,” he continued.

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