Today, a coalition of Connecticut Senate Democrats including State Senators Saud Anwar (D-South Windsor), Marilyn Moore (D-Bridgeport), Derek Slap (D-West Hartford), Will Haskell (D-Westport), Carlo Leone (D-Stamford), Douglas McCrory (D-Hartford), Alex Kasser (D-Greenwich), Dennis Bradley (D-Bridgeport), Christine Cohen (D-Guilford) and Norm Needleman (D-Essex) addressed a letter to Connecticut’s federal delegation, including U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D) and Chris Murphy (D) and U.S. Representatives John Larson (D), Joe Courtney (D), Rosa DeLauro (D), James Himes (D) and Jahana Hayes (D), imploring them to support Connecticut’s towns and cities as the COVID-19 pandemic continues. Ripple effects caused by COVID-19 including unemployment and financial difficulties will likely limit municipal tax payments and utility fee payments, among other revenue sources; the Senators implored the federal delegation to support legislation supplying towns and cities with extra financial resources.
“The communities we serve are in significant need of additional financial resources due to the forecasted loss of revenue related to the ongoing Novel Coronavirus 2019 Pandemic,” the Senators said. “This has led to great hardship for families all over our state.”
“Even with the recent federal aid to individuals and businesses, many will not be able to make municipal tax payments of keep up with local utility fees,” the Senators continued. “This places the towns and cities of our state in the dangerous position of losing the much-needed revenue they need to maintain essentials like roads, schools, trash collection, sewers and public safety services like Fire, Police and EMS.”
The full text of the letter is included below.
April 9, 2020
Senator Richard Blumenthal
Senator Chris Murphy
Representative John Larson
Representative Joe Courtney
Representative Rosa DeLauro
Representative James Himes
Representative Jahana Hayes
Dear Senators and Representatives,
We write to express our concern that the communities we serve are in significant need of additional financial resources due to the forecasted loss of revenue related to the ongoing Novel Coronavirus 2019 Pandemic.
The Coronavirus Pandemic has caused a massive disruption in our private and public lives. Individuals are unable to go to work, shop, attend spiritual gatherings, participate in community events, and send their children to school. This has led to great hardship for families all over our state, especially for those who rely on income from an hourly job or a small business to make due.
Even with the recent federal aid to individuals and businesses, many will not be able to make municipal tax payments or keep up with local utility fees. This places the towns and cities of our state in the dangerous position of losing the much-needed revenue they need to maintain essentials like roads, schools, trash collection, sewers, and public safety services like Fire, Police, and EMS.
We are asking you to please support legislation to address the forecasted municipal budgetary shortfalls by providing towns and cities with extra financial resources to see everyone through these difficult times.
Respectfully,
Senator Saud Anwar
Senator Marilyn Moore
Senator Derek Slap
Senator Will Haskell
Senator Carlo Leone
Senator Douglas McCrory
Senator Alex Kasser
Senator Dennis Bradley
Senator Christine Cohen
Senator Norm Needleman