Connecticut Governor Jodie Rell has proposed a dramatic increase in Educational Funding in her State of The State address to be paid for via increased income taxes. For the first time in years it is proposed to increase, not decrease, money coming to towns such as Madison. For years Madison and other surrounding towns have grappled with how much and how to fund the increases needed in Education Budgets. The state and federal governments continue to increase mandates that grow our budgets without passing on the needed funding. What that means to towns like ours is the constant struggle to bring in budgets in line with tax payers willingness and ability to pay. We have continued to get more efficient and continue to have to make choices, other less fortunate municipalities do not have to make. As a result the town has one of the lowest costs per pupil while having one of the highest rated systems in the state.
Tom Scarpati, Madison's First Selectman, has been a vocal advocate for changing the formula and has not only voiced his opinion, but he has gotten himself a seat at the table and been a part of the process. Working with the powers to be at the state level is no easy task, and even when you get something going in the right direction there are many directions a movement can be carried in. Mr. Sarpati has kept the town up to date on the ECS process through the town web site http://www.madisonct.org/ - http://www.madisonct.org/Selectman/selfromdesk.htm.
In this latest proposal it is estimated that the citizens of Madison will pay an additional $10M and the town would receive approximately $2.8M in return. While clearly not a one for one dollar back, the proposal is much better than Madison has received in the past
Keep informed and become active on this issue, contact your State Senator and State Representative to learn more about their efforts to assist Madison, Guilford, Clinton and Killingworth in receiving a more equitable share of the money we all send up to the state.
Tom Burland
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