State Senator Toni Nathaniel Harp
March 26, 2008
Harp Reports Committee Approval of Midterm Budget Adjustments
State Senator Toni N. Harp (D-New Haven), the Senate Chair of the legislature's Appropriations Committee, today won that committee's approval for midterm budget adjustments. The bill calls for an FY09 budget of approximately $18.4 billion, about $20 million less than what the legislature approved last June, and about $100 million less than the figure Governor Rell proposed February 4th.
Senator Harp said the budget reflects savings from within the state Department of Social Services and other efficiencies to allow additional funds to be directed to municipal governments through town aid grant programs. Senator Harp also said the committee-approved budget increases funding for the state's nursing home industry and several public safety initiatives.
"Increased spending for nursing homes will address inadequate and obsolete staffing ratios and shore up the state's long-term care facilities for the elderly, our state's fastest-growing demographic, Senator Harp said. "As policy-makers we have to be prepared to provide for our senior citizens around-the-clock medical services and acute care as necessary and when necessary."
"We have all spoken out this past year about the need to address our state's criminal justice system and I'm pleased to report we were able to direct more money to our Department of Corrections to follow up on legislation we passed in the January Special Session," Senator Harp added. "We have more money for community policing programs, family support centers, and we added money for the state's urban youth employment programs, to keep help kids learn the value of productivity."
Senator Harp said the bill now advances to the House of Representatives, for consideration by its membership.
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