Commentary—

An Agenda For Change For Connecticut

By Herbert C. Rosenthal

The fiscal health of our state government is continuing to improve. This is good news because it gives the 2006 state General Assembly the ability to improve the quality of life for residents in all of our 169 towns and cities.

To do so, our state leaders must address several issues, including the need for a comprehensive local property tax-relief program and reform of the education-finance system.

A property tax reform program would essentially make the state and our community partners in reducing local taxes. Changes in the system would bring additional responsibility for our cities and towns to be vigilant in making sure tax money is used in an efficient manner. Clearly, additional revenue that reduces local expenditures should be passed on to residents as a local tax cut.

A property tax reform program should reduce reliance on property taxes to fund local public services. Tax reform should use the broader and more equitable revenue-raising capacity of the state to increase funding to towns and cities and restore money to municipal aid programs cut in previous tough-budget years.

Property tax reform should also take a regional approach by authorizing cities and towns to share property tax benefits of economic development. This regional approach would encourage communities to work cooperatively and embrace the concept of smart growth, which makes best use of land development. Also, reform should have communities in a region sharing a portion of the state sales tax and other revenue collected in a region.

Changes in the current tax system will also bring additional responsibility for our cities and towns to be vigilant in making sure tax money is used in an efficient manner. Clearly, additional revenue that reduces local expenditures should be passed on to residents in the form of a local tax cut.

In addition, reform should incorporate full funding of state payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT), programs that reimburse municipalities for revenue lost from state-mandated tax exemptions. Also, the state should address the issue of municipal mandates. The state should either fully fund or eliminate unfunded and underfunded mandates to municipalities. Reform should also prohibit new unfunded mandates on cities and towns, such as unreasonable requirements for voting booth technologies.

Also, the 2006 General Assembly must create a more equitable and reliable system to pay for public education, from kindergarten through grade 12. The state should increase its share of the education cost, including special education, to at least 50 percent average statewide. Our lawmakers should look to reform the Education Cost Sharing (ECS) grant formula. The goal should be to better meet the diverse regular and special education needs of towns and cities. Also, state lawmakers should make sure state financial and technical support meets the demands of the federal No Child Left Behind act. It should adequately fund school-readiness and other early childhood development services. It has been shown that such programs diminish future costs associated with remedial education, welfare and criminal justice programs, according to information from the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities.

To improve and preserve our future, our state leaders should act on several issues involving the environment, transportation, and emergency and homeland security.

It is critical that the state promote sustainable development and smart growth in Connecticut. To do so, a local, regional, and state effort is needed to encourage and promote development where the infrastructure already exists to support it.

This can be done by increasing land use planning and technical assistance capacity of the state Office of Policy and Management and regional planning organizations. Other strategies include implementing a state Geographic Information System; undertaking a statewide build-out analysis to show what Connecticut will look like under existing building patterns and trends of development and land use regulations.

State lawmakers should increase funding to purchase open space and agricultural land preservation and for remediation of contaminated “brownfield” properties. To bring communities closer together, we should encourage establishment of councils of governments in the state’s 15 planning regions. This would allow our top municipal leaders to meet, discuss, and act on issues of mutual concern. Also important is that the state implements a Connecticut Energy Policy and a comprehensive statewide solid waste management plan.

The state should also increase general obligation bond funding for the Clean Water Fund and oppose proposals that reduce or eliminate grant funding to towns and cities. State lawmakers should also reform, but not eliminate or unduly restrict, municipal exercise of eminent domain authority for economic development and revitalization purposes.

On transportation, state lawmakers must not forget the need to substantially upgrade the state transportation network to ensure our present and future economic competitiveness. They should build on the 2005 investment program to alleviate traffic congestion. Where appropriate, they should invest in mass transit and highway expansion. State lawmakers must make sure that transportation planning includes and embraces multimodel opportunities and explore and implement innovative revenue sources that have proved successful in other states and nations. They include electronic user fees, and public-private partnerships.

Finally, state lawmakers must address security. The state relies on local first-responders as the first line of defense in emergencies and homeland security situations. An upgrade is needed in these areas. We must ensure interoperability of state and municipal telecommunication facilities and technologies. We must provide adequate state funding and technical assistance so local governments and regional entities, along with the state, can deal effectively with natural, and man-made emergencies.

While the list is long, it is an accurate compilation of issues our state leaders must embrace if they are to secure the present and future of Connecticut. They have the resources to make many positive changes. We hope they embrace this opportunity and encourage them to do so.

(Herbert C. Rosenthal is the first selectman of Newtown and president of the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities board of directors.)