Hamden's Sequester Impact: $120,000

Talk of the federal Sequester -- the $85 billion worth of budget cuts that will automatically go into effect Friday baring a last-minute resolution -- has dominated the national news for days, but the reality of the situation hit home Tuesday when Supt. of Schools Fran Rabinowitz said the cost to the Hamden school system will top $120,000.

"If it takes place, it's going to be very rough for Hamden," Rabinowitz said during the Board of Education's monthly meeting. "We expect $120,000 deficit in federal grants, which is a 4.5 percent decrease.

"That's not something we can take lightly," she said.

If allowed to take place, the cuts will affect all types of people and organizations that rely on federal funding, and those affects could linger for some time.

Statewide, losses to education grants are expected to come in at $8.7 million in mainstream education funding and $6.3 million in special education money. Overall, the state stands to lose $50 million.

On Monday, the Legislative Council approved a proclamation urging the state's federal representatives to work toward a resolution, but unless that happens, the cuts will go through on Friday.

Rabinowitz said she is hoping it doesn't come to that.

"I wasn't terribly concerned because it always seems there's something that comes through at the last minute," she said, but if not, "this will definitely impact Hamden."