Posted on February 27, 2018
HARTFORD – State Representative Tom Delnicki testified during a public hearing of the Education Committee on Monday, February 26, 2018 in support of House Bill Number 5171: An Act Prohibiting The Executive Branch From Making Rescissions Or Other Reductions To The Education Cost Sharing Grant During The Fiscal Year.
This proposal aims to create more predictability for Education Cost Sharing (ECS) funds. If passed, this would prevent mid-fiscal-year changes, by the governor, to the ECS grant levels that are allocated to municipalities. It would ensure that municipalities receive the funds that they are promised and increase predictability and fairness in the municipal budgeting process.
While testifying before the Education Committee, Rep. Delnicki pointed to the budget turmoil that transpired during the 2017 legislative session when nearly every town in the state was impacted by ECS cuts.
“I felt it was necessary to testify on this matter to prevent the governor from cutting ECS money after the fiscal year starts – I was there fighting for the people,” Rep. Delnicki said. “It is no secret that the ECS grant is essential to municipalities, yet there is much uncertainty regarding how much each should expect to receive. Although the allocation of ECS funds is supposed to be governed by a formula, we have seen its dispersion manipulated, time and time again, for political gain. Unfortunately, ECS funding has become a political tool, and its manipulation has essentially turned municipal budgeting into a guessing game.”