Gov. Lamont vows to start turning Connecticut around

TORRINGTON —  Gov. Ned Lamont told the members of the Northwest Hills Council of Governments (NHCOG) that the state’s financial woes will not be corrected immediately — but they will be corrected. 

Lamont came to a special NHCOG meeting at the University of Connecticut’s Torrington campus on Friday, April 12. The organization is made up of the first selectmen from 21 Northwest Corner towns.

Lamont began by saying he’d only been in office for 90 days. “You can’t blame me for everything yet.”

He said his administration has taken steps to cut costs on health care and pensions for state employees and has instituted a “debt diet” on bonding.

He noted that ratings agency Standard & Poor’s had, for the first time in 18 years, given the state a positive rating (as opposed to neutral).

“It’s a sign that we’re serious.”

Lamont said that upon taking office, he found the state’s fiscal problems were “a little more horrific than I thought.”

Fears of funding cuts

The selectmen had five primary areas of concern.

On helping towns control local tax increases, Michael Criss of Harwinton said that losing state funding will translate into higher mill rates. Criss and Bob Valentine of Goshen both expressed opposition to SB431, a bill that includes a one mill state tax on real property (with a $50,000 “homestead” exemption for one-to-four family, owner-occupied residences); and eliminating municipal property taxes on motor vehicles and replacing them with a state motor vehicle tax of at least 15 mills but not more than 19 mills. 

The money raised by these taxes is earmarked for three purposes:

PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) reimbursements to municipalities; special education grants to municipalities; and funding education and alliance district grants.

The bill also exempts the first $25,000 of assessed value of business and personal property from municipal property tax.

Valentine said if SB431 becomes law, it will require a 4.2 mill rate increase in Goshen.

Lamont said “Hey, 431 is not my bill.

“But I do have something you’re not going to like at all.”

He said he thinks towns should contribute up to one-third of the $25 billion shortfall in teacher pensions, over a three year period.

Shared services

On voluntary regionalization and shared services, Barbara Henry (Roxbury) said “incentivizing goes a lot further than mandating.”

Leo Paul (Litchfield) said towns already share services.

“It might not be structured but we do it on a daily basis.”

Lamont said regionalization will be voluntary. However, he added, “We can’t fund every small school out there.”

High-speed internet

On improving broadband and cell phone coverage, Don Stein (Barkhamsted) said, “We’re very underserved out here.” He said there are a large number of homes without broadband, reliable cell phone service, or both.

Lamont said the state is committed to bringing the new 5G cell phone technology to the entire state.

On releasing bond funds for “critical projects,” Washington’s Mark Lyon said he understood the concept of a “debt diet.”

“But it can’t be a starvation diet.”

He said affordable housing initiatives in Northwest Corner towns are usually handled by local groups, such as housing trusts, and those organizations need some help from the state.

“Without support small projects disappear.”

Henry Todd of Falls Village said he understands the need to control debt “but to cut it off abruptly and wholly …”

Lamont said his administration is returning to “pre-Malloy” bonding levels and used the figure of $900 million.

Education grants

On education, New Hartford’s Dan Jerram said reductions in already low levels of state education grants make it difficult for his town to promote growth.

“We see millions going to Hartford and we’re getting peanuts.” He noted that 11 of the 21 NHCOG towns receive less than $50,000 per year in Education Cost Sharing grants — some as low as a few thousand dollars.

Wrapping it up, the governor acknowledged the difficulties of the state budget. “We tried to do it in an honest way,” he said.

“You may not get everything you want,” he continued. “But let’s get it on time.”

Looking across the room at state Sen. Craig Miner (R-30), he said “Craig, you can hate my budget but you can hate it now” (meaning at least the budget this year will be on time). The remark prompted general laughter.

There  were five members of the state Legislature present: Miner, Sen. Kevin Witkos (R-8), and state Rep. Jay Case (R-63), John Piscopo (R-76) and David Wilson (R-66). Lamont is a Democrat. 

Lamont addressed them directly. “I need you at the table.”

Wrapping the session up, Lamont said, “We’re not going to turn it around tomorrow, but we’re starting to turn it around today.”

The selectmen at the meeting thanked the governor for coming to the Northwest Corner and noted that this is already his second visit after only a few months in office.