| February 10. 2012 | 2012, Issue #01 |
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CCM's State Capitol Report is designed to keep members informed about important legislative issues and actions taken by CCM staff on behalf of towns and cities, as well as suggested actions you can take to protect the interests of your municipality.
For additional information on any of the bills listed and the most up-to-date news on legislative issues affecting municipalities - see CCM's Legislative Action Center.
You can also follow CCM on Facebook and Twitter for real time updates and information from the State Capitol.
- Feel free to forward this report to other municipal employees and officials -
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GOVERNOR'S BUDGET ADDRESS
| On February 8, Governor Malloy introduced his FY 2013 budget adjustment proposal to the General Assembly. CCM applauds the Governor for making municipalities and their property taxpayers a priority in his budget proposal.
CCM has published Town-by-Town State Budget Impact Analysis for member-municipalities, based on the Governor's budget proposal. They can be found at the following link:
Below is a quick synopsis of the proposals for FY2013: - Adult Education - $21 million statewide (no change from FY2012)
- Education Cost Sharing (ECS)* - $2.02 billion statewide ($128.5 million increase from FY2012)
- LoCIP - $30 million statewide (no change from FY2012)
- Municipal Revenue Sharing Account - $99 million statewide ($5.7 million increase from FY2012)
- Non-Public School Transportation - $3.6 million statewide (no change from FY2012)
- Pequot-Mohegan Grant - $61.8 million statewide (no change from FY2012)
- PILOT: College & Hospitals - $115.4 million statewide (no change from FY2012)
- PILOT: State Owned Property - $73.5 million statewide (no change from FY2012)
- Public School Transportation - $24.9 million statewide ($900,000 decrease from FY2012)
- Town Aid Road - $30 million statewide (no change from FY2012)
The Municipal Revenue Sharing Account contains funds that pay the Manufacturing Transition Grant and the Property Tax Relief Grant. It is anticipated that each municipality will receive the same amount from the Manufacturing Transition Grant in FY2013 as it received in FY2012 (statewide total of about $50 million). Property Tax Relief Grant estimates will be forthcoming and will reflect a statewide total of $49 million in FY2013 - an increase of $5.7 million over the current year.
*The ECS total for FY2013 includes funding for charter schools. The amount paid to municipalities for traditional, non-charter schools is $1.93 billion of the ECS total - a $50 million increase. Municipalities will have to pay $1,000 for each of its resident students that attends a state charter school. ## ## ##
If you have any questions regarding the budget, please contact George Rafael of CCM. |
| ACTIONS IN COMMITTEES | LABOR & PUBLIC EMPLOYEES
The Committee raised several concepts this week, including two of the three CCM labor-related legislative proposals: adjustments to the timelines within the binding arbitration system -and- employee contributions rates within the Municipal Employee Retirement System (MERS). CCM will continue to press committee members hard on legislation that would adjust the thresholds that trigger the onerous prevailing wage state mandate. In addition, CCM staff will be acquiring more details on other concepts "raised" by the committee this week that could be of concern to local officials, such as proposed changes to local FMLA laws and certain workers' compensation proposals that could be new unfunded state mandates.
If you have questions regarding Labor issues, please contact Bob Labanara of CCM.
PUBLIC HEALTH The Committee raised several concepts, including a CCM public health-related proposal which will provide local public health representation at the Department of Public Health. CCM will be working with the Committee, and the Department of Public Health in drafting language for the proposal.
If you have questions regarding Public Health issues, please contact Mike Muszynski of CCM.
PUBLIC SAFETY The committee has raised several CCM public safety-related proposals, including:
- Funding for municipal police officer training,
- Eliminating state-mandated training dispatcher training requirements, and
- Evaluating the state mandated threshold that requires police officers to store certain stolen property.
These proposals will provide the appropriate funding to train municipal police officers, as well eliminate several state-mandated requirements that burden municipal offices.
If you have questions regarding Public Safety issues, please contact Mike Muszynski of CCM.
TRANSPORTATION
The committee has raised several concepts this week, including a CCM transportation-related proposal which will allow municipalities the option to utilize photographic traffic enforcement technology. To accomplish this, state statutes need to be amended to include various traffic infractions to the list of registered owner-presumed operator violations, and provide that revenues collected from such enforcement be allocated directly to the municipality.
If you have questions regarding Transportation issues, please contact Donna Hamzy of CCM.
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CCM's 2012 LEGISLATIVE AGENDA
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CCM's annual State Legislative Agenda is developed with input from member-municipalities. CCM's issue-area policy committees consider proposals recommended by municipal officials. The proposals are forwarded to CCM's Legislative Committee for final action. To view the 2012 Agenda and Priorities, please click on the links below:
CCM urges members to speak with your legislative delegation about CCM's 2012 State Legislative Agenda and encourage them to support it. |
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SAVE THE DATE - CCM's 2012 Day on The Hill
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Wednesday, March 21, 2012
You are Needed!!
Please join us for CCM's Annual Day on the Hill -- an opportunity to speak with legislative leaders, get updates on the state budget, and discuss legislative issues of concern to towns and cities with your state legislators. Please plan on attending this event to be sure the municipal voice is heard loud and clear.
The preliminary schedule for the day includes:
- 2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. CCM Meeting With Legislative Leaders & Policy Briefing, Old Judiciary Room - State Capitol
- 3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. One-on-One Meetings with State Legislators, Capitol Complex
- 4:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. Legislative Reception, Old Judiciary Room, State Capitol
** Contact your state legislators in advance to tell them you will be in Hartford
for this event. Arrange a time to meet one-on-one. **
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Please let Carolyn Ryan of CCM know of your attendance plans (203) 498-3012.
MORE DETAILS TO FOLLOW
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DON'T BE SHY, TESTIFY!
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The public hearing process at the General Assembly moves at full speed, especially in a short session, and little time is provided to the public about upcoming hearings - the Legislative Rules only require a five day notice.
Municipal leaders provide a strong compelling voice on issues of importance to towns and cities. Please consider testifying, either in person or in writing.
CCM-Members developed the CCM's 2012 State Legislative Agenda for the Governor and General Assembly to use as a blueprint for Connecticut's future. Your help is still needed, though. State Legislators need to hear directly from you. Without your personal testimony (either written or verbal) CCM: The Voice of Local Government will not be as strong.
CCM Staff will help you by:
- Informing you when public hearings are scheduled.
- Providing talking points and assist you with drafting testimony.
- Submitting your written testimony for you.
- Helping you get signed up to testify in person.
Please contact a member of the Public Policy & Advocacy Staff for further assistance.
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CCM'S LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE
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NEXT MEETING DATE Thursday, March 8, 2012 9 am. - 10:45 a.m. Crown Plaza, Cromwell ** MEETING AGENDAS AND MATERIALS NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE ** Please a complete schedule for CCM's Legislative Committee, including meeting agendas and handouts, can be found for CCM-members only. If you have not registered for Members-Only access, please click here to do so. In the meantime, CCM staff will keep you apprised through our Legislative Alerts, State Capitol Reports, and Mandates Reports publications. ## ## ## If you have any questions, please contact Jim Finley or Ron Thomas at (203) 498-3000. |
| CCM - KEEPING MEMBERS INFORMED | |
CCM's website and Legislative Action Center are designed to ensure critical information is easily accessible for local officials on legislative and regulatory actions.
In addition, CCM is is embracing today's new media outlets as a way inform members and educate state elected officials and the public of CCM's advocacy efforts. Please follow us on Facebook and Twitter, and be sure to view events on CCM's YouTube site.
Along with many other items of interest, on our website you will find such things as:
New content is added daily, if you are not already doing so...
PLEASE MAKE OUR SITE YOUR
FIRST STOPEVERY DAY
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If you have questions concerning this State Capitol Report or on any state-local issues, please contact CCM's Public Policy & Advocacy Team:
- Jim Finley, Jr., Executive Director and CEO
- Ron Thomas, Director of Public Policy & Advocacy
- Kachina Walsh-Weaver, Senior Legislative Associate
- Bob Labanara, Senior Legislative Associate
- Donna Hamzy, Legislative Associate
- Mike Muszynski, Legislative Analyst
- George Rafael, Senior Government Finance Analyst
- Kevin Maloney, Member & Public Relations Director
- Quanette Rhodes, Executive Services Administrator
- Carolyn Ryan, Public Policy & Advocacy Administrative Associate
...or via phone at (203) 498-3000.
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