The Connecticut Conference of Municipalities, the statewide association of towns and cities, on Monday June 15, will began airing a radio spot across the state that calls on the Governor and General Assembly to act before July 1 to help and not hurt Hometown Connecticut.

The radio spot is part of a broad-based advocacy campaign by CCM designed to protect Connecticut local governments - from the smallest towns to the largest cities - as well as their property taxpayers, during the special state legislative session. Towns and cities are looking to the General Assembly and Governor to complete the unfinished business of the regular session by (1) at least maintaining municipal aid levels, (2) providing real mandates relief and (3) helping local governments help themselves. (See enclosed "Unfinished Business: The Special Session Agenda for Towns and Cities."

Here is the text of the ad (Also see attachment to click on and hear the spot):

"The legislature is in special session to adopt a new state budget. Yet, most towns and cities have already adopted their budgets – they’ve had to cutback services, negotiate employee concessions or lay off staff, and grudgingly raise property taxes, even after counting on level funding of municipal aid for next year.

"So if municipal aid is cut, Hometown Connecticut will take the hit - more service cuts, more lay-offs, higher property taxes. Cutting municipal aid is a false economy - it makes the State look better by shifting costs to towns and property taxpayers.

"The Special Session gives lawmakers an opportunity to help Hometown Connecticut by at least maintaining municipal aid; providing real relief from unfunded state mandates, allowing towns to reopen their budgets to account for federal stimulus funding for schools; and taking pressure off property taxes by giving towns some new, limited revenue options.

"Call your state legislators and the Governor and urge them to help - not hurt - Hometown Connecticut.

"A message from the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities - the voice of local government."

From June 15 to June 19, this radio spot will be airing during morning and afternoon drive times on Hartford based WTIC-AM radio (the largest news radio station in Connecticut).

The same ad is also airing from June 15 to June 19 throughout the day on nearly 20 radio stations located throughout the state that are affiliated with the Connecticut Radio Network. These stations include: WICC-AM in Bridgeport; WELI-AM in New Haven; WATR-AM in Waterbury; WSTC-AM in Stamford; WDRC-AM, WMMW-AM, and WWCO-AM in Hartford; WLAD-AM, WINE-AM and WDAQ-FM in Danbury; WZBG-FM in Litchfield; WICH-AM and WMOS-FM in New London; WSNG-AM in Torrington WILI-AM and WMRD-AM in Windham; and WINY-AM in Putnam.

Click Here for CCM agenda: "Unfinished Business - Special Session Agenda For Towns and Cities"