Malloy vetoes bill that would have hobbled authority

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy on Friday vetoed legislation that would have prevented him and future governors from cutting municipal grants, despite whatever future financial stress Connecticut might find itself.

It was the first veto of the year for Malloy, whose term is up in early January.

“It is understandable that legislators wish to provide more certainty to the municipalities and school districts that they represent,” said Malloy’s veto message, which was released after 5 p.m. “This bill, however, takes a misguided approach. If the legislature wishes to provide additional stability and predictability to cities and towns in formulating their budgets, the best way to do so is to pass a state budget that identifies specific savings or additional revenue to pay for the level of assistance it wishes to provide.”

The bill, which passed in veto-proof margins of 36-0 in the Senate and 117-32 in the House, was the result of a battle last year when lawmakers failed to reach a budget deal well into fall and Malloy ordered sharp cuts in municipal aid to the state’s wealthier communities, including Greenwich, New Canaan, Milford, Fairfield and Ridgefield.

Adam Joseph, spokesman for Senate Democrats, said Friday that leaders are reviewing the governor’s veto message and will discuss the possibility of overriding the veto. Thus far this year, Malloy has signed 71 bills into law, let another become law without his signature, and issued the lone veto.