Fasano Response to Lamont Telling Towns and Cities to Do Better Job Managing

Senate Republican Leader Len Fasano (R-North Haven) released the following statement in response to comments made by Governor Ned Lamont today when responding to questions about reports that a majority of Connecticut cities and towns had to increase property taxes this year. Gov. Lamont stated that municipalities need to do a better job managing their finances.

“Gov. Lamont’s comments are insensitive and completely out of touch with reality. Year after year our towns and cities work hard to manage their budgets and support their residents. Meanwhile, the state has a long history of breaking its promises and shifting state burdens onto our municipalities. This year, our towns and cities are still waiting for Town Aid Road funding. They are also preparing for the impact of a minimum wage increase. And they are most likely bracing for next year’s effort by Democrats to shift state burdens, like teacher pension costs, onto local property taxpayers. At the same time Gov. Lamont takes a victory lap for keeping municipal funding flat, he also has approved tens of millions of dollars in new spending elsewhere in the budget. Over $90 million on new state contracts. Over $33 million for UConn Health fringe benefits. And hundreds of millions of dollars are still on the hook to bail out Hartford. Connecticut also continues to face significant deficits in future years and is running on a budget built on false numbers that contains significant tax increases. Before the governor tells towns and cities how they should manage their budgets he needs to get his own house in order.”