Council Taking A Stand Against Unfunded State Mandates

By John Voket

After putting a final few editing touches to a letter conceived by Councilman Gary Davis, the full council voted unanimously to dispatch official correspondence to Governor M. Jodi Rell, Newtown’s Legislative contingent, and a host of other state political leaders.

On March 4, Mr Davis first suggested drafting a letter to state officials calling for relief from unfunded mandates during “difficult economic times.” And earlier this month, he presented a first draft of the letter, which was the subject of some discussion.

During that May 6 meeting, numerous suggestions modifying the draft’s content were offered, and Mr Davis agreed to apply the changes, which included making the message more brief and targeting specific mandates with a specific call for action.

This week, he presented that final draft, which still drew a few suggested edits from the council, but the sum total of those changes were minimal.

The approved draft will be transferred to official council letterhead, and will be signed on behalf of the council by Chairman Will Rodgers.

Besides the governor and Senator John McKinney, Representatives Chris Lyddy and DebraLee Hovey, Senate President Donald Williams, Speaker Christopher Donovan, Senate Majority Leader Martin Looney, and House Majority Leader Denise Merrill will receive copies.

On the matter of state aid, the letter asks the legislature and governor to maintain the current level of funding for the Educational Cost Sharing or ECS formula for Newtown, as well as the excess cost funding for special education.

The letter also asks the state to minimize noneducation funding cuts, backing suggested actions put forth by Gov Rell in her budget message earlier this year.

Pointing out that “these amounts have already been incorporated into our town budget,” the draft indicates that any reductions in state aid beyond what was already suggested by the governor will result in property tax increases locally.

On the subject of unfunded mandates, the council supported waiving certain actions as “a way to spur economic recovery in our communities.”

The council agreed to support at least a delay, if not an outright dismissal, of an in-school suspension mandate that local school officials said would significantly and negatively impact the school budget to the detriment of the majority of students.

“The letter goes on to say: “...unless the state can demonstrate that a mandate will save our communities money, we request that you waive unfunded mandates that deal with administrative and compensation matters for at least two years.”

The letter then clarifies the issue of disallowing co-payments for preventive care that would increase municipal health care premiums, and the possible expansion of workers’ compensation benefits for various illnesses and diseases.

Pending delivery of the final approved draft to Mr Rodgers on May 21, the council chairman anticipated getting the letter off to Hartford by week’s end.