Senate Leadership
March 29, 2007
Williams: Governor’s Property Tax Cap Endangers Commitment To Education
Proposal would encourage municipalities to use education money for other purposes
State Senate President Donald E. Williams, Jr. (D-Brooklyn) today said Governor Rell's proposal to impose an arbitrary cap on local property tax increases profoundly undermines her stated commitment to improving the quality of education in Connecticut. The governor yesterday proposed capping local property tax increases at 3 percent.
"This is a tale of the incredibly shrinking commitment to education. When the governor first proposed her budget, I praised her for what appeared to be significant new dollars tied to ECS funding for education. Then it was revealed that the governor had removed the requirement that the ECS dollars actually be used for education. That would eliminate a fundamental protection we have long had for making sure that these dollars are delivered for the benefit of our children. Now the governor is proposing a cap on local revenue, which makes it even more likely that towns will be forced to raid education dollars to pay other municipal expenses," Sen. Williams said.
"What once looked like a significant step forward for education now has become a threat to not only the new funding for education, but all ECS funding for education. If the governor is truly interested in improving the quality of education in Connecticut, then her property tax cap makes no sense," Sen. Williams said. "The governor's property tax cap proposal would encourage cities and towns to use their state education money for other purposes."
Added Sen. Williams, "If a town determined it needed more than a 3-percent increase, it is unlikely town officials will go through a referendum. The governor's plan makes it easy to raid the ECS money to fill the hole. That's not good news for those who want to promote quality education for our children."
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Senator Williams’ Larry Cook |
Listing of Leadership’s recent press releases. |
Senator Looney’s Larry Cook |
