As the legislature's money committees near decision time on a new state budget and tax plan, mayors and selectmen came to the state capital to plea their case for maintaining current levels of aid. Though the Governor's budget supposedly does no harm to municipalities it may actually create some cuts in state aid.
Connecticut Conference of Municipalities spokesman Kevin Maloney says many have been forced to trim costs. Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton has proposed leaving 15 vacant positions open in the next fiscal year's budget.
Boughton pointed out that the state budget cuts the Priority School District Grant by $6.6 million.
Officials also complained about the high cost of abiding by mandates that the state does not fund. Small towns are threatening to fire their resident state troopers if Governor Malloy's plan to pass the full cost of the program to communities survives the state budget process. About 56 towns, including New Fairfield, Kent, and Sherman, either have a resident state trooper or share one.