Senator Chapin Updates Local Officials at Cornwall Legislative Breakfast [Republican American]

Article as it appeared in the Republican American on April 19, 2013

By Ruth Epstein

CORNWALL — State Rep. Roberta B. Willis, D-Salisbury, told area first selectmen Thursday that state funding to municipalities will probably be safe.

“There’s enough commitment to keep you whole,” she told the town leaders who gathered at the Wandering Moose restaurant for a legislative breakfast. “I think municipal aid is on solid ground.”

She also didn’t see a problem with the towns getting their town aid road money or Local Capital Improvement Program funds. “I can’t imagine anyone cutting town aid. The governor was a former mayor. He gets it.”

Cornwall First Selectman Gordon M. Ridgway poses a question to state Sen. Clark J. Chapin, R-New Milford and state Rep. Roberta B. Willis, D-Salisbury, at a legislative breakfast at the Wandering Moose restaurant on Cornwall Thursday. (Credit: Ruth Epstein, Republican-American)

She and state Sen. Clark J. Chapin, R-New Milford, attended the session. Chapin said he too was cautiously optimistic that some funds previously thought gone might be restored. He and Willis were also pleased to say the deficit is showing a decrease each month. It’s now at about $70 million.

There is still some question about the status of PILOT (Payment In Lieu of Taxes) and Council of Governments Executive Director Dan McGuinness said that could have a big effect on a town like Falls Village, where a large portion of land is off the tax rolls.

Washington, Conn., First Selectman Mark Lyon brought up the annual lament about the towns having to finish budgets before they know what money will be coming from the state. “I don’t know when yours will be finalized, but ours will be voted on in two weeks,” he told the legislators.

First Selectman Bruce K. Adams of Kent said they’d gotten word that Small Town Economic Assistance Program grants would be announced in March or April and he said they’d just recently gotten the same note saying the announcement would be in May or June.

Sharon’s First Selectman Robert Loucks brought the discussion around to jobs. He said Gov. Malloy has said he’s created 22,000 jobs. “I’d like to know where.”

Willis replied some are through tax incentive programs and others may be because of openings at Jackson Labs and the Hartford-New Britain busway.

Asked about the abolition of the motor vehicle tax, Willis said it’s not officially dead. “If you talk to the governor it’s still in.”

Gordon M. Ridgway, first selectman of Cornwall, said Connecticut is the highest tax state in the country and it appears the state is taking money out of the small towns and pouring into Hartford. “It’s tough. These small towns look after their own budgets.”

Willis said there is a huge problem in Waterbury where many people register their cars elsewhere. “I understand it makes no sense if the same car pays extraordinarily more if parked 10 miles down the road.”