CCM Wins With Member Input

With legislative session over, CCM Policy sets eyes on 2023 policy proposals

At the end of the 2023 regular session, it was clear that the work that CCM did on behalf of towns and cities made an impact with the General Assembly and the Governor. There were significant increases to municipalities, primarily in the areas of education, that will go a long way toward restraining property taxes.

The most notable of course is the significant, accelerated increases in state k-12 education aid. This totaled $150 million with an additional $25 million in special education excess-cost aid set aside. This is over the $135 million initially proposed in the Governor’s budget. We believe one of the primary factors was CCM’s education aid campaign which we kicked off at the state capitol that urged Governor Lamont and legislators to accelerate these increases and consider the economic factors that are making it harder to deliver on public services like education that are crucial to the future of our state.

All combined, there is an additional $329 million in the state budget for local public education above the current year amount, and all towns that were scheduled to receive a decrease in ECS aid were held harmless. Other notable state budget items include:

• An increase of 3% or $19 million in PILOT funding.

• $5 million for the Firefighter Cancer Relief Fund, which includes compromise language agreed upon by CCM and the firefighters.

• $1.8 million for municipalities to implement early voting in FY 24. Each municipality will be allocated $10,500 to help offset the cost of running the Presidential Primary. No money has been set aside for FY 25.

• $3 million in grants for fire departments to remediate PFAS foam.

• Extends, through FY 25, the municipal grant program for purchasing body and dashboard cameras.

• Delays by one year the changes to the motor vehicle assessment law.

While these highlights are important, there were many more bills that will affect municipalities in the coming year. Thankfully, Public Policy and Advocacy staff prepared their 2023 Annual Report on the General Assembly, which included summaries of 21 pages of bills of importance to towns and cities enacted during this session, with links to the full text of the Public Acts and the Office of Legislative Research (OLR) reports. This will go a long way toward restraining property taxes for residents and businesses in our 169 towns and cities, as well as maintain and enhance critical local services, most notably local public education.

Looking Ahead

CCM has begun the process of developing our legislative program for the 2024 session of the General Assembly. As a member driven organization, your input is vital to CCM’s efforts in advocating on important topics at the State Capitol. Throughout the month of July, we collected thoughts and opinions from local leaders around the state to help CCM’s policy committees develop positions that are representative of our membership.

There are no doubt areas that will be covered in the forthcoming session – affordable housing, solid waste management, infrastructure, education, finance, alternative energy, broadband access, mandates relief, and property tax reform, the input that was given will be reviewed and organized over the coming months when members will be able to vote on their priorities during the Legislative Committee meeting at the 2023 CCM Convention on November 29.

CCM’s LEGISLATIVE POLICY COMMITTEES

Education, Appropriations, and Taxes and Finance

Helps develop and establish CCM policies concerning education, municipal expenditures and state and local taxes and finance. Reviews proposed state legislation and proposed state policies regarding, education, tax issues, the relationship of state aid to local property taxes, and other government finance issues. Recommends appropriate legislative and administrative solutions.

Environmental Management And Energy

Helps develop and establish CCM policies in environmental management in such areas as solid waste, hazardous waste, air quality, energy and broadband accessibility. Reviews the activities of relevant state agencies, boards and task forces. Reviews proposed state legislation and proposed state policies. Recommends appropriate legislative and administrative solutions.

Municipal Law And Labor Relations

Helps develop and establish CCM policies concerning municipal law, municipal powers, legal issues, state mandates, liability, insurance, risk management. municipal personnel and labor relations issues. Reviews and recommends proposed legislation and administrative regulations relating to municipal law, risk management, employee relations and collective bargaining.

Land Use, Transportation, Infrastructure and Economic Development

Helps develop and establish CCM policies in the areas of land use, community and economic development, housing, transportation funding and investment and mass transit issues. Reviews proposed state legislation and proposed state policies. Recommends appropriate legislative and administrative solutions.

Public Health, Public Safety and Human Services

Helps develop and establish CCM policies concerning social services, welfare, health issues, substance abuse, public safety, crime control, fire safety and building code enforcement. Reviews proposed state legislation and proposed state policies. Recommends appropriate legislative and administrative solutions.

For additional information on the outcomes of the 2023 Legislative Session or the Policy Committees, please contact CCM’s Public Policy and Advocacy Staff.