Sen. Linares’ proposal aims to save Haddam taxpayers money [Middletown Press]

State senator seeking ECS grant for Haddam due to closed nuclear plant

Article as it appeared in the Middletown Press

HADDAM >> A local legislator is proposing a bill aimed at adjusting the education cost sharing formula to compensate the town for a loss of revenue created by the closing of the Connecticut Yankee Nuclear Power Plant.

State Sen. Art Linares, R-33, said he proposed the bill because the town’s Grand List has taken a huge hit since the power plant closed its Haddam Neck location in 2006. The plant was the town’s largest employer when it was open and made up a large percentage of the town’s Grand list value of close to $300 million. However, the value dropped to under $30 million when it closed in 2006, and that has caused a substantial shift in the town’s education budget, Linares said.

“When the formula was fixed in 2007, the town took into consideration that the power plant was still in business,” said Linares. “So we’re now asking the state for approximately $600,000 a year to repair those losses as a result of their closing.”

According to the General Assembly’s website, the ECS formula was established in 1988 to help allocate ECS grant funds across the state’s school districts, equalize spending by targeting more money to poorer districts, and to improve educational equity by adjusting for differences among school districts in terms of student need and district wealth.

“We feel this request will save the taxpayers money and will also help fund the town’s education budget,” said Linares.

First Selectman Melissa Schlag, a Democrat, declined to comment on the bill proposal Thursday because she is in early talks with other state senators on the matter, but she said she would provide more details when they become available.

“It’s a short legislative session, but it’s going to take some work and time on my part to get it taken care of,” said Schlag.

Linares agreed.

“It takes a lot of talking, but I think we have a solid argument here,” said Linares.

The CGA’s website showed that the bill has been referred to the Joint Committee on Education as of Thursday for further review. Linares said the process could take a couple of weeks before something happens. After that, Linares plans to put out a request for the public to testify in support of it, he said.

A copy of the proposed bill can be viewed by visiting http://www.cga.ct.gov/2014/TOB/S/2014SB-00118-R00-SB.htm.