Rep Shea: New Budget Benefits Monroe And Newtown

The new state budget approved by the Connecticut General Assembly provides increased state aid to Monroe and Newtown as well as funding for the purchase of watershed land owned by the Kelda Group and its BHC subsidiary,  State Rep Pat Shea, R-Monroe/Newtown, said this week.

“Although I had hoped for significantly higher increases in state aid for Monroe and Newtown for the 2001-2002 fiscal year than actually materialized, mainly because money is tighter this year than it has been in the recent past, both towns will be receiving more state aid than was provided in 2000-2001,” Rep Shea said.

“The budget provides $30 million for the acquisition of more than 15,000 acres of watershed land owned by the Kelda Group, including 1,600 acres in Monroe and 500 acres in Newtown,” Rep Shea said. “These properties need to be preserved for ecological, recreational, and esthetic reasons. Preserving open space is important because it maintains part of our state’s rural heritage as a legacy for future generations and provides passive recreational opportunities such as hiking and fishing.

“More towns will qualify for state aid to reduce local special education costs under this budget,” Rep Shea said. “Previously, towns were not eligible for state aid to defray special education costs until they were spending five times the school district’s average per pupil expenditure on special education students. Under this budget towns will qualify for the assistance if they are spending 4/5 times the district’s average per pupil expenditure for special education. A bill I proposed earlier this year would have meant towns would have had to spend only three times the average per pupil expenditure on special education students to qualify for the benefit. While the eligibility threshold this budget sets does not go as far as my proposal would have gone, it is a step in the right direction and it will help.

“The budget also includes $50 million that will be used by the Transportation Strategy Board for traffic congestion relief,” Rep Shea said. “Traffic congestion is a major problem for Fairfield County communities. Many of the projects and proposals made by the Transportation Strategy Board will alleviate traffic congestion in our part of Connecticut, ultimately benefiting commuters from Monroe and Newtown.”

“The budget also helps low-income seniors by expanding the eligibility limits for the ConnPACE prescription drug program,” Rep Shea said. “It means that about 14,000 more seniors will now qualify for the program. With the cost of many essential drugs on the increase, many seniors were being forced to make difficult choices on how to spend their limited income. This budget will mean a better quality of life for elderly people who desperately needed the ConnPACE program to keep their prescription drugs affordable.

“It also provides funding in the amount of $16.5 million for the underground storage tank cleanup program, which will enable all existing claims to be paid, including several made by Monroe and Newtown residents,” she said.