The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Litchfield County towns seek more support from state
Road improvements, educational programs are key concerns for region
GOSHEN — The requests for support are similar, but the needs appear more urgent this year for municipalities in Litchfield County, which depend largely on state funds to support infrastructure projects.
Financial resources, or the lack thereof, for road improvements and educational programs are the key concerns for the region as the start of the new legislative session looms on Jan. 9.
In their last meeting of the year Thursday, members of the Northwest Hills Council of Governments unanimously approved a priority plan that requests support from the region’s state legislative delegation for a broad range of items.
The plan for the 21-town organization encourages legislators to help municipalities control local tax increases, provide relief from unfunded state mandates, help build a partnership between state and local organizations to address the state’s opioid crisis, and continue support of transportation funds.
Torrington Mayor Elinor Carbone, who represents the largest municipality in the group, emphasized that she has a long list of key requests for legislators. The specific requests were not readily available following the meeting.
“Do no harm” to towns,
was the request from Winsted Town Manager Robert Geiger. He added that he hopes the legislature will approve the state budget on time next year.
The state’s 2017 budget wasn’t passed until late October, leaving municipalities without grant funding for some of their most urgent projects.
“State aid is 20 percent of a small town’s budget,” said Barkhamsted First Selectman Don Stein.
“I wish we would get the STEAP (Small Town Economic Assistance Program) grants back,” he added.
The state’s website announced the change in September with a notice that read “OPM (Office of Policy and Management) is not accepting STEAP applications at this time.”
The program was reserved for towns with fewer than 30,000 residents, such as Barkhamsted. Priority was given to requested projects that would benefit two or more municipalities, documents show.
State Rep. David Wilson, R-Litchfield, said the legislative priorities for town leaders “are spot on,” As legislators, “we do look at these requests from municipalities,” he said.
Wilson is a member of the Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee. It oversees proposed legislation on finance, revenue, capital bonding, fees and taxation.
Residents have a chance to meet directly with Wilson and other elected officials from the region at a reception Monday morning, sponsored by the council of governments and the Northwest Connecticut Chamber of Commerce.
The event will be held at 7:30 a.m. at Ed Advance, 350 Goshen Road, Litchfield.