Bipartisan Budget Restores $ for Ansonia and Derby

Sen. George S. Logan and State Rep. Linda Gentile (D-104) are praising the bipartisan state budget which restores potential cuts for Ansonia and Derby.

The budget passed the House of Representatives in a 126 to 23 vote.

It passed in the State Senate in a 33 to 3 vote.

Under the governor’s executive order, both Ansonia and Derby were set to lose a significant amount of funding in municipal aid for the 2017-18 fiscal year.

Specifically, Derby was set to lose $1.6 million and Ansonia was set to lose approximately $664,000.

Under the bipartisan budget, all of this funding is restored.

Sen. Logan said, “This bipartisan budget provides predictable municipal aid so that Ansonia and Derby know what they can count on from the state. This plan averts the deep cuts contained in the governor’s executive order.  It does not shift teacher pension costs onto towns and cities.  We cap state spending and borrowing. We do not increase the sales tax or income tax.  We do not put a tax on cell phones.  We protect funding for individuals with disabilities.  We protect funding for mental health and substance abuse treatment to fight the opioid epidemic.  We protect services for seniors, including the CT Home Care Program, Meals on Wheels and non ADA dial a ride.  It is an honor to represent Ansonia and Derby, and we will always work tirelessly to protect taxpayers.”

“This truly bipartisan budget is a win for both Ansonia and Derby, who were locked in limbo during the budget crisis,” Rep. Gentile said. “In addition to rejecting damaging cuts, this budget does not shift undue financial burdens onto local property taxpayers, invests in job creation efforts along with innovation and manufacturing, protects our community hospitals, and pushes Connecticut in the right direction.”

“I have heard from town officials and residents that the potential cuts under the governor’s proposal would have been damaging to our communities and I am proud to have worked with members across the aisle to successfully restore them,” Rep. Gentile said.

Additionally, the budget:

• Restores funding for scholarships for low and middle-income students, like the Roberta Willis Scholarship
• Enacts a state spending and bonding cap
• Maintains the property tax credit of $200 for seniors and families with dependents
• Continues investments in job creation programs such as the Small Business Express, Manufacturing Assistance, Innovation Places and Brownfield Remediation

The budget will now head to the governor’s desk for approval.