State Representative Nicole Klarides-Ditria (R‑105) joined her House and Senate Republican colleagues in Hartford Feb. 7 to unveil their plan to reinstate nearly $20 million in education funding that was cut mid-year to cities and towns throughout the state. The proposal would also eliminate the projected fiscal year 2017 budget deficit.
“Pushing the state’s fiscal woes onto the backs of municipalities, seven months into their fiscal year, was a reckless decision made by the Governor,” said Rep. Klarides-Ditria. “We have the opportunity to restore these hard-hitting cuts made by the current administration, which will make sure our children’s education is not in jeopardy of losing necessary resources.”
The Republican proposal makes selective cuts to non-entitlement programs in a variety of state agencies; the cuts total $31.4 million. Most of the savings come in the form of a $17 million cut to the Reserves for Salary Adjustments account which can easily withstand the cut.
In total, the Republican plan would allow the state to restore $18.9 million in Education Cost Sharing funding that was cut by the administration in December and also close the current budget deficit of $11.9 million as estimated by the Office of Fiscal Analysis.
