Enfield Legislators Vote to Protect School Funding
Hartford – State Representatives Greg Stokes (R-58) and Carol Hall (R-59) voted in favor of HB 5171 ‘An Act Prohibiting the Executive Branch from Making Rescissions or Other Reductions to the Education Cost Sharing Grant During the Fiscal Year’ on Wednesday, May 2nd. The bill would protect school districts from the mid-year grant reductions that have occurred in recent years.
“I was proud to co-sponsor this initiative and support it in the Education Committee. Enfield has been hit especially hard by Governor Malloy’s cuts to education funding,” said Rep. Stokes. “Reductions during the fiscal year are especially difficult and leave few options for administrators and teachers. As a grandfather with students in Enfield schools and a former Board of Education Chairman, I know how important stable funding is.”
“I was greatly distressed by the Governor’s cuts to Enfield’s education cost sharing this year. When the district sets its budget in early Spring and then has millions of dollars pulled out in the middle of the year the cuts are devastating,” said Rep. Hall. “I had proposed similar legislation in 2017, HB 6829, and pushed for this concept again as a member of the Education Committee. I am proud to have been part of the effort to protect our local education funding.”
The bill passed the Education Committee 27-9 and the House 117-32. The legislation awaits further action in the Senate. To track this bill and other legislation visit www.cga.ct.gov.