CCM: Unfunded mandates hurt cities, towns

The state has 1,300 underfunded or unfunded mandates regulating towns and cities, a new report from the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities has found.

The report is the first in a series of Election Campaign 2018 candidate bulletins to be produced by the bipartisan group of municipal leaders. Five more will be published prior to the November election.

The CCM argues that while many local leaders support the intent behind state mandates, they cannot afford to fund those mandates without state aid.

“This forces local governments to increase property taxes to cover the costs of these mandates, reduce or eliminate local services, or cancel or limit needed infrastructure improvements,” the report reads.

Ned Lamont, the Democratic candidate for governor, has proposed a reform to the state’s property tax system to provide relief to homeowners. His campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Republican Bob Stefanowski’s platform relies on eliminating the state income tax, which makes up roughly half of all state revenue.

“As governor, I will work with the Legislature from day one to repeal unnecessary mandates, which will allow our municipalities to operate more efficiently and reduce the property tax burden on hard-working Connecticut families,” Stefanowski said in an emailed statement.