Connecticut Conference of Municipalities: Give Towns More Money

This article was reported and written by Eileen McNamara

In its latest legislative push to get more money for towns, the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities says the new state budget figures coming out of Hartford shows even steeper cuts in local funding than Gov. Dannel P. Malloy had proposed. 

"The Appropriations/Finance Committee’s proposed state budget restored some key municipal aid programs but cut others," CCM said in a letter this week to legislative leaders. "In fact, this latest proposed state budget cuts municipal general fund (unrestricted) revenue by $152 million compared to $128 million in cuts proposed by the governor."

Under the latest budget plan that was approved last week by the General Assembly's Appropriations Committee, East Lyme's state aid next year would be cut by nearly $60,000, Old Lyme would lose about $3,000 in state funding, and Lyme more than $6,000 according to CCM's budget analysis. 

Here's how the numbers break down by town:

• East Lyme, under the governor's plan would have received $463,982; the Appropriations Committee cut that to $405,672.
  
• Old Lyme, under Malloy's budget was slated to receive $68,181; the Appropriations Committee cut that to $61,737.
• Lyme would have received $22,433 from the Governor; the Appropriations Committee cut that to $19,198.

Local leaders in East Lyme, Old Lyme, and Lyme have said cuts in state funding to towns can translate into higher local property taxes, the main source of revenue for towns. 

"CCM urges you to ... craft a state budget that protects the interest of Hometown Connecticut and its residential and business property taxpayers," CCm said in its letter to legislative leaders. "Make every effort to fully restore municipal general aid and craft a budget that is fair to towns and cities."