2021 CCM State Legislative Program State sets foundation for growth in our towns and cities
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he 2021 CCM State Legislative Program was always going to have two tasks: set the foundation for building strong and sustainable communities, while also aiding the continued response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Developed, vetted, and approved by member municipal leaders, we are ready to work with the Governor and General Assembly to address these most pressing issues throughout 2021.
Education School has been different since March of 2020, but many of our concerns have been consistent for years. First and foremost, municipalities deserve stability and predictability from the state. This overarching goal covers many of our recommendations. In special education we argue that funding should follow a student until said student changes school districts. In this manner, the priority, the education of the child, would be funded no matter where the student moved, no matter their needs. Because of the minimum budget requirement (MBR), moving from school to school can swing budgets dramatically, and causing undue burdens on the schools finances. Making the child the priority is the right thing to do. In single and regional school districts, this is important at the macro level. In the former, establishing a cap on the per pupil tuition endowed academies and magnet schools are allowed to charge local governments would greatly benefit local governments who will know that there are no unknown costs. For regional boards, establishing a 3-5 year moving average to identify and establish operating costs would smooth out uncertainties and make budgeting more predictable and stable.
Energy & Environmental Management The environment is a major issue for towns and cities in 2021, working with Sustainable CT we have given the tools to municipalities to make those changes at home. But the state also needs to back up those efforts we have already started. In order to allow for greater green energy growth, the state should eliminate the Virtual Net Metering Credit Cap, and once eliminated, provide preferential consideration for projects proposed to be placed on “preferred” sites. We’d also like a study of Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) programs that allows local governments to procure wholesale electricity for retail customers within their jurisdiction on a combined basis. Currently, municipal aggregation has gone nowhere because it is an opt-in program, whereas a CCA is opt-out.
Labor Relations Some of the key highlights are to remove barriers to shared services. Many towns and cities have begun looking for ways to save money, working towards a more efficient future for our local governments, but have been prevented by collective bargaining agreements. There also needs to be movement to help prevent unreasonably contested workers’ compensation claims. Allowing municipal employers a 45-day period to review claims and allowing them to maintain the ability to appeal would aid municipalities greatly, while preserving the rights of employees.
Land Use, Housing, and Community Development It’s clearer now in light of the pandemic that the course of daily business has shifted from in-person meetings and visits to town halls to a predominantly electronic means of conducting business. It is likely that municipalities will not revert back to the old “normal” once this is over and will continue to operate as they have during the pandemic, adopting new technologies and processes. One key way to adapt to this “new normal” is to remove the unfunded mandate of putting legal notices in newspapers. Not only is this a financial burden, but newspapers themselves are by and large a digital first medium. A town or city website is a crucial nexus of information for residents, and state law should recognize this. Also, there is overwhelming evidence that residents go to municipal websites first to learn about public meetings and to participate at the local level.
6 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | FEBRUARY 2021
