Voters approve new “lockbox” and public lands amendments to the state constitution.

Voters Overwhelmingly Approve Amendments To Connecticut Constitution

Connecticut voters approved two new amendments to the state constitution Tuesday: one creating a transportation “lockbox” to protect funding for highways and mass transit, and another adding new safeguards for state park and forest lands.

Voters across the state cast their ballots in favor of both amendments by substantial margins, according to unofficial returns. As of 10:30 p.m. the Associated Press was reporting the lockbox amendment had passed 183,729 to 23,883 . The land protection question passed 173,934 to 30,148

The transportation lockbox is aimed at preventing taxpayer dollars that are supposed to pay for roads, bridges and mass transit programs from being shifted by lawmakers to use for other state expenses.

Michael Cacace, co-chair of a coalition of business, union and advocacy groups pushing for the lockbox called its approval “an important step to promote transparency and accountability.”

Admitting that the lockbox amendment isn’t foolproof, Cacace said it will at least “make sure the public is fully aware” if lawmakers choose to divert tax revenues that are supposed to support transportation.

Advocates of the amendment to protect public parks, forests and agricultural land say public hearings and special votes should be required when the lands are sold, transferred or given away.

“This is a huge victory for good government reform,” said Eric Hammerling, executive director of the Connecticut Forest & Park Association and a member of the Protect Connecticut Public Lands Coalition.

“Requiring public input and transparency in the state constitution when the fate of public lands hangs in the balance is critical, and we are thrilled the voters agree,” he said.

Connecticut already has a dedicated Special Transportation Fund in which state fuel taxes are deposited to help pay for transportation needs. But last year the fund almost became insolvent because lawmakers approved spending for new projects without providing new revenue to pay for them.

A lockbox amendment, according to advocates of the plan, would make it much more difficult for future governors and legislatures to siphon off transportation funding. They warn that Connecticut’s highways and bus and rail systems need major upgrades to reduce traffic gridlock and restore deteriorating and aging bridges.

But critics of the proposal claim the real reason behind the push is an effort to bring back highway tolls or institute new taxes to fund transportation projects. Other doubters argue that lawmakers can always divert tax revenue before it reaches the lockbox.

In 2011, the “Haddam Land Swap” erupted that resulted in a long-running campaign for a constitutional amendment with new protections for public lands.

Lawmakers approved a proposed deal under which a developer would give the state a large section of wooded land in return for getting state property overlooking the Connecticut River. Gov. Dannel P. Malloy signed the legislation into law, but the deal fell through when an audit showed the riverside property was far more valuable than the developer’s forest land.

Activists argued that lawmakers have in the past approved transfers of state land without public hearings or any public discussion or debate, usually in the chaotic, waning hours of a legislative session. But some lawmakers say creating new constitutional protections could make transferring state properties for good reasons much more cumbersome.