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Bethel First Selectman calls for budget veto override

Several municipal leaders are calling on state lawmakers to get together and override Governor Malloy's budget veto.

 

Bethel First Selectman Matt Knickerbocker says there seems to be a feeling at the Capitol that certain "wealthy towns" would be able to easily absorb massive cuts in state aid.  Bethel has $8.1 million in Education Cost Sharing funding at risk, and the town is not able to absorb that.  He says it would result in a property tax increase, cut in service or a combination of both. 

 

Bethel has a town meeting form of government so every budget vote is a referendum. Knickerbocker says Bethel has a very engaged population so budgets are often hotly contest so the town tries to justify every penny that goes into the budget.

 

When he hears state officials saying towns can find creative ways to make up the cuts, Knickerbocker says it's wrong and disrespectful to small towns.

 

He urged lawmakers to override the budget veto.

 

Knickerbocker says there are some series flaws in the tax and spending plan approved by lawmakers.  He wants them to stick with the budget that passed and then fix the problems. 

 

The Connecticut Council of Small Towns doesn't view it as a Republican or bipartisan budget, but simply as the budget that lawfully passed the House and Senate.  Knickerbocker called on lawmakers to override the veto so municipal leaders can get back to work with some confidence that bond ratings and taxpayers won't be hit hard by the impasse.

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