The Connecticut Conference of Municipalities (CCM), the statewide association of towns and cities, today (Tuesday, November 24) launched an aggressive new statewide advocacy campaign to protect municipal aid as state leaders consider options to deal with a growing state deficit. CCM"s message is simple and straightforward: Do The Math: Cuts in state aid to your Hometown = Increases in your property taxes.

"Municipal governments are struggling under the weight of a $50 million cut in municipal aid for this fiscal year, capped state appropriations for special education reimbursements, flat funding for Education Coast Sharing Grants, and no relief from costly, unfunded state mandates," said Jim Finley, CCM Executive Director and CEO. "And they do not have the local revenue options needed to address local problems without putting more pressure on the State's largest and most unfair tax – the property tax," continued Finley.

Cutting promised state aid again to towns wouldn't be a savings. It merely shifts the state budget deficit onto Hometown Connecticut and shafts local property taxpayers," Finley emphasized. "Enough is enough," said Finley.

The Governor is expected to unveil her proposed mid-year cut proposals by December. 1. She is also expected to call the General Assembly back into special session in early December to take action on mid-year cuts.

The campaign will be keyed around a new CCM website – dothemathct.org – which will be the source for ongoing information and action that municipal leaders, property taxpayers and state leaders can take to avoid the simple math calculation that is the centerpiece of CCM's efforts to fight off any mid-year or next-year cuts in state aid.

Here are other initial elements of the campaign

• CCM letter to Governor and legislative leaders urging them to oppose mid-year and next-year cuts in municipal aid
• Campaign "toolkit" for municipal CEOs with legislator and other contact information, including concrete steps local officials can take to generate public and legislative support for this effort.
• A new website: "DoTheMathCT.org"
• Statewide radio ad campaign - Do The Math: Cuts in state aid to your Hometown = Increases in your property taxes.
• An advertising blitz in December and throughout the session on radio, in newspapers and blogs, etc.
• CCM distributes Connecticut Town and City, CCM's bi-monthly newsletter –highlighting the "Do-The-Math" campaign -- to 7,000 state and local officials across Connecticut.
• In addition, CCM will continue to press state legislators, Governor Rell, gubernatorial candidates, and potential allied groups, such as business, education, and labor groups, to send a broad-based message to state policymakers that cutting state aid to Hometown Connecticut is not the way to balance the state budget.