Malloy Won't Cut State Aid to Towns

Under pressure from Democrats, Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy has dropped plans to cut state aid to towns and cities.

In response, the Connecticut Council of Small Towns released this statement on Thursday.

The Connecticut Council of Small Towns (COST) applauds the efforts of Governor Dannel P. Malloy and lawmakers to spare towns and cities from budget cuts.

“Their decision recognizes that cuts in municipal aid would decimate vital program and trigger property tax increases or layoffs. We understand the difficult budget challenges facing the Governor and lawmakers and sincerely thank them for once again protecting our towns and cities,” said. Bart Russell, Executive Director of COST. “Connecticut's families, property taxpayers, and municipal officials can all breathe a little easier now.”

“Governor Malloy and state lawmakers have been steadfast in their commitment to preserving municipal aid, recognizing that cuts would only shift the burden to property taxpayers. We thank them for honoring this commitment,” Russell said.

The Connecticut Conference of Municipalities (CCM) estimated that as part of Malloy's Plan B cuts, East Hampton would have lost $85,042 and Portland $62,185.

For more on Malloy's decision, see The Hartford Courant's Capitol Watch story.