March 29, 2012
APPROPRIATIONS CO-CHAIRS SAY MID-TERM
BUDGET CHANGES INCLUDE EDUCATION REFORM
Rep. Toni Walker and State Senator Toni N. Harp (D-New Haven), co-chairs of the legislature’s Appropriations Committee, today said the budget adjustment bill approved by their committee embraces the pillars of the public education reforms proposed by the Malloy administration. The bill was approved six days ahead of the committee’s deadline.
The lawmakers said hallmarks of the governor’s proposals remain intact: $50 million more for the state’s Education Cost Sharing grant program (ECS), funding for the so-called Commissioner’s Network of distressed schools to be prioritized, and funding for twice as many school readiness, early education slots in Priority Districts.
“In addition, a $1 million appropriation will fund a kindergarten-through-third-grade reading proficiency program and $2.8 million will fortify the state’s vocational / agricultural schools with a dual purpose: to provide public education options and to spur economic development in that sector,” Senator Harp said. “The budget approved today also calls for a $7.6 million contribution to the Teachers Retirement Board, representing the state’s share of funding for the revised healthcare formula for retired teachers.”
“This is a fair, transparent budget,” Rep. Walker said. “It is the product of a bipartisan process where Democrats and Republicans met, made suggestions and worked to produce a budget that was under the governor’s spending level and under the spending cap.”
The lawmakers said the revised spending plan for Fiscal Year 2013 is approximately $1 million less than the governor’s proposed budget and remains about $700,000 beneath the state’s Spending Cap. The lawmakers said today’s bill also reflects a few additional, legislative priorities, among them:
On the heels of today’s vote, additional changes to these mid-term budget adjustments are expected as negotiations among legislative leaders and administration officials get underway.