Zupkus Supports Legislation to Control Costs of Resident Trooper Program

HARTFORD – State Rep. Lezlye Zupkus today said she supports legislation aimed at reducing overtime and fringe benefit costs for communities that use the state’s resident trooper program.

Zupkus, a member of the legislature’s Public Safety & Security Committee, listened to public testimony recently on H.B. 5391, An Act Concerning Overtime and Fringe Benefits of Resident State Troopers. The proposal would reduce the amount of money that towns must reimburse the state for the cost of resident troopers for overtime and fringe benefits associated with overtime from 100 percent to 70 percent.

“Municipal budgets of small communities statewide are under continual pressure from a variety of sources, and towns that want to maintain current residential trooper staffing levels are often forced to pass along rising costs to folks who pay local property taxes,” said Zupkus, who represents the 89th General Assembly District covering Bethany, Cheshire and Prospect. “This bill is a bit of a release valve that gives local budgets a slight break while protecting the long term viability of the resident trooper program.”

Several local leaders testified in support of the proposal Tuesday. Members of the Council of Small Towns has thrown its support behind the legislation, including chief elected officials in Bethany and Prospect.

Municipalities began paying 100 percent of the overtime and fringe benefits associated with overtime in 2011. Several elected officials who testified Tuesday explained that fringe benefit costs—health insurance, pension, unemployment compensation—have risen dramatically over the last few years.

Advocates of the proposal fear towns may be forced to reduce the number of resident troopers they have because of increasing costs, which could impact public safety and the vitality the program.