Cafero: Give Cities and Towns the Relief they’re Asking for

HARTFORD — Now isn’t the time. That was the message today from Republicans concerned about the abilities of towns and cities to pay for unfunded mandates handed down by the state. Rep. Larry Cafero, leader of the House Republicans, was backed by Reps. Rosa Rebimbas, Arthur O’Neill and Bill Hamzy during an afternoon news conference, and together they called for super-majority Democrats to delay implementation of in-school suspension, a mandate requiring the criminal justice system treat 16 and 17-year-olds as juveniles, and a law requiring municipalities to post minutes and agendas on their Web sites. “This is probably the worst time to institute them,” said Cafero, who used the in-school suspension mandate as his primary example. Considering tough economic conditions, a city such as Bridgeport, would have a hard time paying its $600,000 program cost. Smaller communities, such as New Milford and North Branford, would have an equally difficult their covering their costs — upward of $35,000 a year. “This is probably the worst time to institute them,” Cafero said of the mandates. Cafero, joined by state Sen. John McKinney, said local leaders throughout the state have called for the delay, and the two Republican leaders called upon Democrats to take that step during an expected legislative session next week. Republicans introduced a five-point local mandate relief proposal that they will try to pass. The plan was developed in response to mayors and first selectmen and promoted by the Connecticut
Conference of Municipalities, CCM. The proposals that will be offered next week include:

• Delaying implementation of the in-school suspension of students that will require millions to hire
  additional certified personnel and identify dedicated space;
• Delaying implementation of policies that raises the age of juvenile offenders from 17, a program
  that will cost towns and police department $95 million in personnel and constructions costs;
• Delaying the requirement that towns and cities post meeting agendas and minutes on the web;
  Requiring a two-thirds majority vote by the legislature to pass any more mandates;
• Adding “services’’ to the list of purchasing contracts that DAS can enter into for municipalities