Case Proposes Municipal and Education Funding Requirement

To the Editor,

Connecticut’s volatile fiscal condition has been negatively impacting cities and towns across the state. Ultimately, this has created a situation where local budgets are nearly impossible to balance. As a result of a stagnant economy, the perpetual state budget deficit continues to grow. The out year deficit projections reach into the billions.

How can we continue to cut funding to our cities and towns and expect them to be able to balance their budgets?

There is no assurance state resources for town aid and education will be allocated in full – or at all. In order to counteract this, I have put forth legislation that would hold our municipalities harmless from the broken budgeting process in Hartford.

House Bill 5156 – AN ACT CONCERNING MUNICIPAL AND EDUCATION FUND PAYMENTS will effectively require the state to provide municipal and education fund amounts to municipalities no later than March thirty-first. Often, municipal budgets are put up for referendum in April or May, so this provision would give the municipalities an accurate dollar amount to consider while balancing their local budget before asking for public approval.

Town aid and education funding should not be used as the political bargaining chips, as they previously have been. My proposed law would allow for an equitable and transparent allocation of funds to all cities and towns, resulting in a concrete number that can be depended upon.

I am confident that this measure will receive support from both sides of the aisle, as budgeting is not a partisan issue, and will continue to update you on the proposal’s progression through the legislative process.

Regards,

Jay Case
State Representative, 63rd District