FROM THE NEWSROOM: In Pomfret, the two candidates for First Selectman – both currently seated on the local governing board – have different ideas about the financial future of local municipalities, that relay heavily on state grant funding. Republican State Representative Mike Alberts recently told WINY that – due to budget concerns at the state level, and a stagnant economy – he believes Connecticut towns should be preparing to receive less financial support from the state. Asked if he agreed with this assessment during a WINY debate, Republican candidate and current selectman Peter Mann said its a “difficult situation” but that he believes “less and less money” will be handed down to towns for education and local capital projects. He says that Pomfret officials need to slow down spending in anticipation of that day. But current First Selectman Maureen Nicholson says that the current budget in place has been “cut to the bone.” Nicholson says that if the state starts pulling back on funding, it will fall “squarely on the backs of taxpayers” to make up the difference. The First Selectman says that the state needs stop levying unfunded mandates on local school districts, or start ponying up the money to pay for them. Both Nicholson and Mann say that towns will have to look outside of the box to bring high costs in areas like Special Education down. To hear the debate in full, visit our Listening Room on winyradio.
Posted on: Mon, 28 Oct 2013 14:56:48 +0000
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