Free Daily Headlines :

  • COVID-19
  • Vaccine Info
  • Money
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Health
  • Justice
  • More
    • Environment
    • Economic Development
    • Gaming
    • Investigations
    • Social Services
    • TRANSPORTATION
  • Opinion
    • CT Viewpoints
    • CT Artpoints
DONATE
Reflecting Connecticut’s Reality.
    COVID-19
    Vaccine Info
    Money
    Politics
    Education
    Health
    Justice
    More
    Environment
    Economic Development
    Gaming
    Investigations
    Social Services
    TRANSPORTATION
    Opinion
    CT Viewpoints
    CT Artpoints

LET�S GET SOCIAL

Show your love for great stories and out standing journalism

Malloy ‘can’t make any promises’ about town aid in next budget

  • by Keith M. Phaneuf
  • October 23, 2012
  • View as "Clean Read" "Exit Clean Read"

Hartford — Gov. Dannel P. Malloy warned municipal leaders Tuesday that — unlike two years ago — “I can’t make any promises” about the town aid level he will recommend in his next budget this February.

Addressing hundreds of municipal officials gathered at the Connecticut Convention Center, Malloy — a former mayor — pledged that his administration would nonetheless remain a close partner with local government.

“This (budget) is a work in progress, so I can’t make any promises, but you are in my thoughts,” Malloy, a Democrat, said in his remarks to open the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities annual convention.

CCM, the chief lobbying arm for the state’s 169 cities and towns, sent the governor a letter last week urging him at least to keep municipal aid flat in his budget proposal for the 2013-14 and 2-14-15 fiscal years — a plan due to the General Assembly in early February.

Malloy said the letter expressed “legitimate concerns” about the fate of municipal budgets. “Quite frankly,” he added, “I’m a little worried about my own.”

Malloy at CCM

Gov. Dannell Malloy: Making no promises

The governor acknowledged that Connecticut’s recovery from the last recession has been much slower than many in government anticipated.

Two reports issued this past summer by the University of Connecticut painted a gloomy picture for the state’s sluggish recovery, including an estimate that the state might not recover all jobs lost in the last downturn until 2018.

Malloy’s budget office projected a $60.1 million deficit for the current fiscal year in its latest forecast, which was issued Monday.

And based on shrinking revenue estimates released last week by the legislature’s nonpartisan Office of Fiscal Analysis, that shortfall could be as large as $100 million.

In September Malloy directed all agency heads to search for new ways to streamline government and reduce spending.

But the governor insisted Tuesday that not all is doom and gloom. “We do see some good signs,” he said, citing a 12 percent jump in housing sales in August and climbing numbers in new housing construction as well.

There also is considerable uncertainty around state and municipal budgets tied to the presidential election. Levels of federal aid to states, as well as taxable state income tied to capital gains and dividends, could be shape dramatically by whichever party captures the White House.

“I don’t intend to raise taxes, so I need to take (the letter) into consideration,” but can’t offer any guarantees, the governor said.

“Most of the services provided for the public are provided by you all,” Malloy said. “And I have a particular respect for the work you do.”

“You are first and foremost on my mind,” added Malloy, who was mayor of Stamford from 1995 through 2009, and also is a former CCM president. “Local government needs to be treated as a partner in all we do in state government.”

During the 2010 gubernatorial campaign, Malloy pledged if elected he would not cut Education Cost Sharing grants — the single-largest state grant program involving nearly 1/10th of the entire, $20.5 billion state budget.

Malloy, who took office in January 2011, inherited a built-in hole of nearly $3.7 billion in 2011-12 finances. The biennial budget he and the legislature adopted spared all municipal aid from cuts, increased ECS by $50 million this year, and also gave municipalities a share of sales and real estate conveyance tax revenue worth about $50 million per year.

The governor said after Tuesday’s address that he believes most municipal leaders understand the uncertain fiscal climate Connecticut is facing. “It is just really too early to tell,” he added.

Hartford Mayor Pedro Segarra, a Democrat, said he believes the Malloy administration’s efforts to prioritize municipal aid and grow jobs are helping Connecticut’s economy, but it will take time.

Richard Barlow of Canton

Canton First Selectman Richard Barlow expects to be spared from state budget cuts

Canton First Selectman Richard Barlow, a Republican, said afterward that he expects most communities will develop their next local budget on the assumption that state assistance will be spared from cuts, but also acknowledged that the economic recovery has been slow.

“That’s the conundrum every municipality faces,” Barlow added. “You have to make assumptions.”

Sign up for CT Mirror's free daily news summary.

Free to Read. Not Free to Produce.

The Connecticut Mirror is a nonprofit newsroom. 90% of our revenue comes from people like you. If you value our reporting please consider making a donation. You'll enjoy reading CT Mirror even more knowing you helped make it happen.

YES, I'LL DONATE TODAY

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Keith M. Phaneuf

SEE WHAT READERS SAID

RELATED STORIES
Is the state’s vaccine rollout leaving behind Black and Latino residents?
by Jacqueline Rabe Thomas, Kasturi Pananjady and Jenna Carlesso

Rolling out the COVID vaccine to older residents first means it's more likely to go to white residents first.

Education is the cornerstone of democracy
by John J. Petillo

The events of January 6 represent an inflection point for our democracy and, in truth, for our concept of civil society. Much has already been written about the political and cultural tides that swept our nation toward these events —and a real understanding of their significance will not be possible for some time, in part because the reactions and responses to these events are still unfolding as I write.

A rebuttal to ‘A call to save arms’
by Tyler David Gavitt

A response to "A call to save arms: is vaccination really the solution?" published January 25: The aforementioned article, written by Genevieve Diamant, stands to do potentially significant damage to the efforts by the citizens and government of the State of Connecticut to bring under control the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Holocaust, history and today’s politics
by Avinoam Patt and Laura Hilton

On January 6 the world watched as domestic terrorists stormed the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, DC.  The pictures seared into our memories of this day are replete with symbols of hatred, racism, and extremism: The Confederate battle flag, the white power hand gesture, and the gallows erected near the Capitol reflecting pool. What many may not have noticed within this sea of white supremacy was the prominence of anti-Semitic images.

Sticker shock
by Eric W. Kuhn

It would award a modest amount to families making less than $203k in the first year of the program, ramping up to as much as $1,800 in year four. On a sliding scale, the money would also go to families making up to $682,000 a year. Really? That's 8.7 times the median household income in America.

Support Our Work

Show your love for great stories and outstanding journalism.

$
Select One
  • Monthly
  • Yearly
  • Once
Artpoint painter
CT ViewpointsCT Artpoints
Opinion Education is the cornerstone of democracy
by John J. Petillo

The events of January 6 represent an inflection point for our democracy and, in truth, for our concept of civil society. Much has already been written about the political and cultural tides that swept our nation toward these events —and a real understanding of their significance will not be possible for some time, in part because the reactions and responses to these events are still unfolding as I write.

Opinion A rebuttal to ‘A call to save arms’
by Tyler David Gavitt

A response to "A call to save arms: is vaccination really the solution?" published January 25: The aforementioned article, written by Genevieve Diamant, stands to do potentially significant damage to the efforts by the citizens and government of the State of Connecticut to bring under control the COVID-19 pandemic.

Opinion The Holocaust, history and today’s politics
by Avinoam Patt and Laura Hilton

On January 6 the world watched as domestic terrorists stormed the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, DC.  The pictures seared into our memories of this day are replete with symbols of hatred, racism, and extremism: The Confederate battle flag, the white power hand gesture, and the gallows erected near the Capitol reflecting pool. What many may not have noticed within this sea of white supremacy was the prominence of anti-Semitic images.

Opinion Sticker shock
by Eric W. Kuhn

It would award a modest amount to families making less than $203k in the first year of the program, ramping up to as much as $1,800 in year four. On a sliding scale, the money would also go to families making up to $682,000 a year. Really? That's 8.7 times the median household income in America.

Artwork Grand guidance
by Anne:Gogh

In a world of systemic oppression aimed towards those of darker skintones – representation matters. We are more than our equity elusive environments, more than numbers in a prison and much more than victims of societal dispositions. This piece depicts a melanated young man draped in a cape ascending high above multiple forms of oppression. […]

Artwork Shea
by Anthony Valentine

Shea is a story about race and social inequalities that plague America. It is a narrative that prompts the question, “Do you know what it’s like to wake up in new skin?”

Artwork The Declaration of Human Rights
by Andres Chaparro

Through my artwork I strive to create an example of ideas that reflect my desire to raise social consciousness, and cultural awareness. Jazz music is the catalyst to all my work, and plays a major influence in each piece of work.”

Artwork ‘A thing of beauty. Destroy it forever’
by Richard DiCarlo | Derby

During times like these it’s often fun to revisit something familiar and approach things with a different slant. I have been taking some Pop culture and Art masterpieces and applying the vintage 1960’s and 70’s classic figures (Fisher Price, little people) to the make an amusing pieces. Here is my homage to Fisher -Price, Yellow […]

Twitter Feed
A Twitter List by CTMirror

Engage

  • Reflections Tickets & Sponsorships
  • Events
  • Donate
  • Newsletter Sign-Up
  • Submit to Viewpoints
  • Submit to ArtPoints
  • Economic Indicator Dashboard
  • Speaking Engagements
  • Commenting Guidelines
  • Legal Notices
  • Contact Us

About

  • About CT Mirror
  • Announcements
  • Board
  • Staff
  • Sponsors and Funders
  • Donors
  • Friends of CT Mirror
  • History
  • Financial
  • Policies
  • Strategic Plan

Opportunity

  • Advertising and Sponsorship
  • Speaking Engagements
  • Use of Photography
  • Work for Us

Go Deeper

  • Steady Habits Podcast
  • Economic Indicator Dashboard
  • Five Things

The Connecticut News Project, Inc. 1049 Asylum Avenue, Hartford, CT 06105. Phone: 860-218-6380

© Copyright 2021, The Connecticut News Project. All Rights Reserved. Website by Web Publisher PRO