CASE: Governor Ignores Legislative Provision

To the Editor,

Last week, the governor released a reactionary list of holdbacks, or budget reductions, to various state budget accounts to close a newly projected budget deficit. These reductions mainly reduced municipal aid. In light of the recent action taken by the executive branch, I felt it necessary to fully explain what the legislature had done in lieu of axing more aid to the towns of the Northwest Corner.

When the bipartisan budget was passed in October, the legislature set forth a “Targeted Savings Lapse” framework to dictate how savings were to be achieved if a deficit were to be projected. These savings would have been procured through overtime reductions, consolidation of human resource staff, and other administrative streamlining. There was no suggestion by the legislature to achieve such savings through a reduction in town aid.

Although signed into law by the governor, this provision is being ignored by him.

The executive branch has made a unilateral decision to reduce more aid to cities and towns. After the legislature successfully restored the governor’s education cuts and killed the proposal to place the financial burden of teacher pensions onto towns, it only makes sense that the governor is attempting to draw monies out of our state’s fiscally responsible municipalities in a different way.

His list of holdbacks shows that his only interested is to weaken the financial stability of our cities and towns. I implore you to reach out to the governor’s office and ask him to maintain our municipal aid levels. His number is 860-566-4840 or toll free at 800-406-1527.

Sincerely,

Jay Case
State Representative, 63rd District

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