Fairfield, CT - A statement released by Tom McCarthy, Majority Leader for the Fairfield RTM Republicans, commented on the State's recent funding reductions.
"The RTM Republican majority remains disappointed in the short-sighted actions of Governor Dan Malloy who is looking to push Hartford's problems onto the local taxpayer in Fairfield by proposing to eliminate the $3.6 million Education Cost Sharing (ECS) grant to our town. It is also a matter of concern that one of our own State Representatives (Cristin McCarthy Vahey) voted in support of a $1.2 million reduction in ECS funding just a few short weeks ago.
At this point, the Town of Fairfield is in a difficult position: It is virtually certain that we will not know the extent of the funding reduction to be imposed upon Fairfield by the Democrat Majority in Hartford before the RTM's budget vote on May 2, 2016. Majority Leadership of the RTM remains committed to working through these serious issues with First Selectman Mike Tetreau, BOE Chairman Phil Dwyer and our RTM Democratic colleagues. Accordingly, we have requested a legal opinion from Town Attorney Stanton Lesser to confirm that postponement of budget vote for several weeks would not in any way represent a violation of the rules as set forth in the Town Charter. Making a budgetary decision based on assumptions is something we wish to avoid. It is our sincere hope that with additional time we will have additional clarity from Hartford."
Republican Majority Leader