Danbury's Dem Delegation Lauds Funding For City Programs In CT Budget

**News Release Submitted by Danbury's Democratic legislative delegation**

June 13, 2013

The day after Governor Ned Lamont officially signed the 2024-2025 biennial state budget into law, Danbury's Democratic legislative delegation celebrated the inclusion of $123.75 million in state funds for Danbury – a huge, two-year increase over current state funding levels.

Danbury's Democratic legislative delegation of state Senator Julie Kushner and state Representatives Bob Godfrey, Raghib Allie-Brennan and Farley Santos said the new, two-year budget they all voted for last week for will provide Danbury residents with $3.71 million more in 2024 than in 2023 – a 6.77% increase – and another $10.4 million more in 2025, representing a whopping 19% increase in state aid over 2023. The two-year state budget provides $123.75 million in total state aid for Danbury, plus more money for other city programs.

Included in the state budget are separate funds for:

• Danbury Youth Service Bureau

• Western Connecticut State University Center for School Safety and Crisis Preparation

• EdAdvance

• The Palace Theater

• Connecticut's Afghanistan and Iraq War Veterans Monument Fund

• Friends of the Danbury Museum & Historical Society Authority

• Danbury Youth Baseball

• Danbury Police Activity League

The $51.1 billion biennial state budget passed the state Senate last week on a bipartisan 35-1 vote and passed the House on a similarly bipartisan 139-12 vote. The new state budget includes $612 million in personal income tax cuts, $232 million more in state aid to local school districts, and hundreds of millions of dollars for nonprofits to pay their employees higher wages.

"We all worked very hard this year with the Democratic chairs of the Appropriations and Finance committees, as well as with the Democratic Lamont administration, to secure as much state aid as possible for Danbury. And we succeeded in that task," said Sen. Kushner. "The amount of additional local education aid we've been able to secure through a change in the funding formula is just tremendous, and the beneficiaries are the students and parents and taxpayers of Danbury. It was a very rewarding legislative session for Danbury."

“The commitment to public education is stronger every year, and this year is no exception,” said Rep. Godfrey. “We have met the needs of working families, children, and seniors, while providing the largest income tax rate cut in history. My constituents will be better off.”

“My Democratic colleagues and I worked collaboratively and tirelessly to secure funding that will be used to benefit our community," Rep. Allie-Brennan said. "The money allocated will go toward great organizations, such as Danbury Youth Services, which I’ve been advocating for since 2019, as well as the Afghanistan Iraq Memorial Fund, a cause I’ve supported by participating in various fundraisers. I’m excited to see these funds put to good use for the benefit of all Danbury residents.”

“This funding is a significant victory for Danbury," said Rep. Santos. "I’m proud to have worked with my Democratic colleagues to secure these much-needed funds for our community. This money will go toward supporting local organizations and projects that both improve the lives of residents and strengthen our economy. Danbury needs leaders who deliver, and I’m proud to have worked closely with Representatives Allie-Brennan and Godfrey and Senator Kushner on this, and I'd like to express my sincerest gratitude to them for their unwavering support in securing this funding.”