February 26, 2009

The Honorable M. Jodi Rell
Governor of Connecticut
Executive Chambers
State Capitol Building
Hartford, CT 06106

Dear Governor Rell:

The Connecticut Conference of Municipalities urges you to enact legislation that would provide $28 million in state bond funding to cover state commitments to municipalities under the Local Bridge Program – funding that was cut mid-year as part of the 'deficit mitigation' package.

According to DOT, all of the money in the Local Bridge Program Fund was committed to towns and cities. With the transfer of $28 million to the state General Fund – mid-year -- the Local Bridge Program will not be able to maintain those commitments. In many cases municipalities have begun or completed work on bridges based on the promise of state assistance.

We appreciate that the General Assembly maintained $7 million for the Program, and we understand the State's dire fiscal situation. But cutting funds for the Local Bridge Program flies in the face of economic stimulus and infrastructure investment efforts.

State bond funding for this program would be an appropriate way to restore the ability of the program to meet its commitments. The Program was originally financed with bond authorizations. Further, the benefits of the repairs to local bridges will be long-lasting and of benefit people across the state, two important considerations in bonding. Towns and cities depend on the State to meet its commitments, even during difficult times. They should not be left high-and-dry.

Meeting the commitments of the Local Bridge Program would (a) maintain the trust and partnership important to the state-local relationship, (b) create jobs and help jump-start the economy, and (c) help protect public safety. We urge you to make every effort to enact bonding to cover the shortfall that now exists in the Local Bridge Program.

Sincerely, James J. Finley, Jr. Executive Director & CEO