CCM has written to Governor Rell and General Assembly leadership urging them to support (a) reaching agreement on the municipal portion ofthe state budget by May 15 -- taking the best municipal aid initiatives from the three state budget proposals now on the table, and (b) allowing municipalities -- notwithstanding their charters or ordinances -- to amend their budgets and property tax rates after they are adopted. See sample letter and the enclosure (comparing municipal aid in each ofthe proposals) sent to state leaders.

The ongoing stalemate on the state budget and continuing uncertainty about how federal stimulus (ARRA) funds can be used make this year different from any other in memory, and calls for extraordinary solutions.

Your Action Needed

• Call your state legislative delegation and caucus leaders right away.

  House Democrats - (860) 240-8500 (also leave a message for Speaker Chris Donovan)
  Senate Democrats - (860) 240-8600 (also leave a message for Senate President Don Williams)

  House Republicans - (860) 240-8700 (also leave a message for Minority Leader Larry Cafero)
  Senate Republicans - (860) 240-8800 (also leave a message for Minority Leader John McKinney)

• Call Governor Rell at (860) 566-4840 -- identify yourself and leave a message with her telephone operator.

Tell them:

• Uncertainty over the state budget and federal stimulus funding means you are adopting your local budget in the dark about key revenues.
• Adopt the municipal portion of the state budget by May 15 -- taking the best municipal aid initiatives from the three state budget proposals as all make state aid a priority. Thus, there already exists the basis for a bipartisan early decision on municipal aid.
• Unless flexibility is granted to municipalities to adjust their already-adopted budgets and tax rates -- notwithstanding charters and ordinances -- property taxpayers could pay too-high taxes and/or services could be cut too deep. Such local option authority would protect residents and businesses in Hometown CT.
• Extraordinary times call for extraordinary solutions.

For more information, please contact Jim Finley (jfinley@ccm-ct.org) or Gian-Carl Casa (gcasa@ccm-ct.org) of CCM at (203) 498-3000.

Enclosures