Sen McKinney:

 “Keep Kelda Property Off The Table”

HARTFORD — As members of the General Assembly return to Hartford to address the $300 million budget deficit, State Senator John McKinney, R-Fairfield, called upon legislative leaders to keep the purchase of the Kelda property off the negotiating table during budget talks.

According to Sen McKinney, difficult choices will need to be made during the special session but the purchase of the Kelda property should not be touched.

Sen McKinney said that he supports Governor Rowland’s call for a session to deal with the looming budget deficit but he sees no reason for the state to resort to borrowing in order to cover expenses.

Sen McKinney insisted that none of the budget cuts should affect the preservation of the Kelda property. The Kelda land consists of more than 15,000 acres of watershed property that extends over four counties and 15 towns. More than 50 percent of the land is located in Sen McKinney’s 28th Senatorial District. Once fully implemented, 5,469 acres in Easton, 330 acres in Fairfield, 1,523 acres in Monroe and 645 acres in Newtown will be preserved.

“This purchase is simply unprecedented. Never before has there been an opportunity to preserve such a vast amount of land. In Fairfield County there is a definite need to protect open space. With its recreational benefits and aesthetic beauty, the Kelda land is an irreplaceable natural resource,” said Sen McKinney. “Governor Rowland has already said that he opposes a delay in the purchase. Now if the Democratic leaders of the legislature come around, we can take this off the table before we even go back into session.”