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Lawmaker questions one-time funding for anti-crime initiatives

The top Republican on the legislature's budget writing committee is voicing concern over Democrats using one-time federal funds to pay for ongoing expenses, including criminal justice initiatives.

Some Republican legislators on the  Appropriations Committee are questioning why the spending plan, approved by the Committee on a mostly party-line yesterday, relied on one-time federal COVID-19 money to fund some anti-crime initiatives, including 2-point-6 million dollars to fund state and local police efforts to address car thefts. They argued it should instead be included in the regular budget.

Crime has become a major issue in the 2022 election. Both the General Assembly and the governor are up for reelection in November.

New Milford Senator Craig Miner says he believes his colleagues who drafted the budget think those increases in violent crime are not going to need continuing financial support.

Committee chair Senator Cathy Osten said the state Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection thought it was better to use American Rescue Plan funds to address violent crime, additional speed enforcement and other anti-crime efforts “to give them time to see if this was just a COVID-related issue and will dissipate while they’re addressing the issue.”

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Joe Pags

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