Gov. Rell's proposed city and town grants less than Democrats'

The following is a newsworthy message from Connecticut Voices for Children:

From: One Connecticut
Date: Apr 26, 2007 11:29 AM
Subject: CT Voices Brief on Proposed State Budgets and Municipal Aid
To: undisclosed-recipients

From Connecticut Voices for Children:
A new issue brief by CT Voices for Children, Comparing Apples to Oranges: Comparison Municipal Aid in Governor Rell's and the Appropriations Committee's FY 08 Budgets, critiques a recent Hartford Courant article that concludes that about 70% of cities and towns would receive more state aid under the Governor's plan. The brief finds that the Courant used an "apples to oranges" comparison in its analysis -- including funds from the proposed Casino Assistance Revenue (CAR) grant in the Governor's town aid totals although this grant would just compensate towns for the loss in property tax revenues resulting from her proposal to repeal the property tax on car. That is, the CAR grant (unlike the other state grants listed) would not provide any additional net revenues to towns.

In a more accurate "apples to apples" comparison of aid to towns in the Governor's and Appropriations Committee's budget -- in three sample Senate districts (and eleven towns) -- this brief finds that most towns would receive more aid under the Appropriations Committee plan than the Governor's. It also finds that all towns would receive more state aid than in FY 07 under both plans.

The issue brief is available at: http://www.ctkidslink.org/pub_detail_355.html

Shelley Geballe, JD, MPH
President, CT Voices for Children
33 Whitney Ave. New Haven, CT 06510
www.ctkidslink.org