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Bolton RTC Members	With Week Remaining in Fiscal Year, Governor Rell Again Calls on Democrats to Pass Responsible Budget With exactly one week remaining in the current state fiscal year, Governor M. Jodi Rell today again called on majority Democrats who control the General Assembly to pass an affordable, responsible state budget for the next two years – a budget that takes into account the continuing deterioration of Connecticut ’s economy and the weakness of state tax revenues. Should the Legislature fail to meet its responsibility, Governor Rell said, she will have ready an Executive Order that will allow the state to continue operating efficiently. The Governor and Democrats who control the Legislature have been at odds over the state budget for the next two fiscal years, which faces a deficit of about $8 billion. Governor Rell has insisted that the deficit be reduced through cuts to the size and cost of state government. Democrats have proposed a budget that reportedly includes $2.8 billion in increased taxes – the largest tax increase in Connecticut history – but have so far released no details of their tax plan. “If the Democrats are intent upon passing such a tax increase, they owe it to the individuals and employers who will be paying those taxes to provide them with the details,” Governor Rell said. “There is only a week to go – and still there is no information about who will pay these taxes, or how much they will be forced to pay. The Democrats should spell out their plan and hold a public hearing on it before bringing legislators back to the Capitol for a vote.” On Monday, the Governor’s budget office – the Office of Policy and Management, or OPM – sent its monthly report to the Office of the Comptroller showing that revenues from virtually every tax collected by the state have fallen below previously lowered projections. “The OPM report is awash in red ink,” Governor Rell said. “There is no mistaking the fact that we are not collecting the tax revenues we expect now – and those expectations have already been reduced several times. In just the month of May, the income tax fell below projections by $26 million. “The Legislature should craft – and pass – a new state budget that is both responsible and affordable,” the Governor said. “The families and employers of Connecticut are already suffering the effects of the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression. New taxes are not going to bring in significant new revenues if there is no economic activity to support them – let alone encourage job growth or the new economic activity we need to recover. “The only sensible solution is to reduce the bloat of bureaucracy and sharply reduce state spending,” Governor Rell said. “Not only will this enable us to weather the current economic storm, it will position our state for future growth and enable us to deal effectively with future budgets – when one-time sources of revenue such as the federal stimulus and the ‘Rainy Day Fund’ will not be available to help us.” If the Legislature fails to pass a responsible budget, Governor Rell is preparing an Executive Order that will fund state agencies and operations until a new budget is in place. Some agencies will receive monthly allotments of one-twelfth of their prospective budget; others will receive less, depending on their expected needs. Expenses that are not immediately necessary – the purchase of snow tires or sand for icy roads, for example – will not be funded until they are needed.
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	Governor Rell: $48 Million in Stimulus Funds to Improve Water, Sewer Systems Statewide Gov. M. Jodi Rell announced today that the state is getting $48.5 million in federal stimulus funds to help dozens of municipalities – large and small – repair and update aging water and sewer infrastructure with “shovel-ready” projects that will create immediate jobs for construction workers, designers and engineers. “From modernizing waste and storm water systems to updating treatment technologies, we are building on our long-standing investment in clean water. The workers on these sites will pump money back into local economies,” Governor Rell said. “The much-needed projects help us safeguard the environment and ensure that families have a clean and healthy supply of public drinking water.” The Governor said the projects were selected after an extensive public comment and hearing process and expands the number of projects supported through the Clean Water Fund (CWF). The $48.5 million in stimulus funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) provides an additional $85 million for clean water projects because of the “leveraging” benefit of the CWF.  Through bonding proposed by Governor Rell and approved by the state Bond Commission, the state now has $270 million available for clean water projects.  The communities chosen for clean water projects range from the state’s largest – Bridgeport – to smaller towns such as Marlborough and New Hartford and state officials say many of these projects are deemed “shovel-ready,” meaning they have obtained all the necessary permits and are ready to go out to bid.  One of the largest design and construction projects is a $66 million sewer overflow system for the Metropolitan District Commission, which supplies water to 16 cities and towns in the greater Hartford area. For more information on these projects or the ARRA in Connecticut , visit the state’s official stimulus Web site at www.ct.gov and click on the CT Recovery link. For information on the CWF projects visit: www.ct.gov/dep/cleanwaterfund. Clean Water Fund Priority List:  Approved Projects Combined Sewer Overlow (CSO) Combined sewer overflow (CSO) projects are being undertaken to separate storm and sanitary flows from combined sewers to minimize the number and volume of overflows.  The following projects are eligible for maximum grants of 50% with the remainder being covered by 20- year loans at 2% per year: Bridgeport is continuing separation work in the southern part of the city.  This work will enable the City to reduce CSOs to the Pequonnock River . Bridgeport CSO                                       $14,000,000       Bridgeport CSO design                              $5,175,900 The Greater New Haven WPCA is working to separate sewers in the vicinity of Yale University . This project will reduce the frequency and volume of downstream CSOs.       GNHWPCA CSO Construction              $ 19,200,000       GNHWPCA CSO Design                     $   3,000,000 This Metropolitan District Commission ( MDC ) separation effort is in the north end of Hartford . The project will reduce the frequency and volume of CSO discharges to Gully Brook.        MDC CSO Construction                         $ 60,000,000        MDC CSO Design                                $   6,000,000 Middletown is proposing to separate sewers in the Old Mill Road area.  This will reduce excessive flows to the WPCF thereby minimizing bypasses. Middletown CSO Construction                  $ 2,000,000 The City of Norwalk is proposing this first phase in a two phase project to upgrade their existing WPCF to remove more nitrogen and to treat all combined sewage flows at the WPCF.  This first phase will enable the WPCF to better handle the debris, grit and high flows coming into the facility.  Portions of this proposed project are eligible for maximum grants of 50% with some portions at a maximum 20% grant.  The remaining costs are eligible for a twenty year loan at 2% per annum. Norwalk WPCF Denitrification/CSO              $ 40,000,000 Water Pollution Control Facility (WPCF) Denitrification Projects These water pollution control facility (WPCF) denitrification projects are being undertaken to remove nitrogen from discharges. High levels of nitrogen contribute to lower levels of dissolved oxygen in Long Island Sound – which has a severe impact on plant and aquatic life.  Each of the following construction projects will be eligible for grants of approximately 23% with remainder being covered by 20-year loans at 2% per year: Groton WPCF Denitrification             $3,400,000*    Meriden WPCF Denitrification              $2,000,000* Southington Interim Denitrification              $1,355,000* West Haven WPCF Denitrification              $ 60,000,000 South Windsor WPCF Denitrification              $ 39,500,000 New Milford WPCF Denitrification              $ 33,800,000 New Hartford WPCF Denitrification        $   8,950,000            “*” denotes projects funded by the CWF, currently under construction Sanitary Sewer Construction Projects to Address Existing Issues The Town of Brookfield is constructing sewers for the elimination of septic systems that are failing at Stony Hill Village , Whisconier Village and Cedarbrook Condominiums.  This is a small community project and therefore is eligible for maximum grants of 25% with the remainder being covered by twenty year loans at 2% per annum. Brookfield Sewers                                            $5,580,000 The Bolton Lakes Regional Water Pollution Control Authority (BLRWPCA) is constructing sewers around the Lower and Middle Bolton Lake .  This area encompasses the towns of Bolton and Vernon .  This is a small community project and therefore is eligible for maximum grants of 25% with the remainder being covered by twenty year loans at 2% per annum.       BLRWPCA Sewers                                         $8,500,000 The Town of Marlborough is currently constructing sewers to address failing septic systems around Terramuggus Lake .  This is a small community project and therefore is eligible for grants of 25% with the remainder being covered by twenty year loans at 2% per annum.  The CWF has already provided $9,000,000 for this project and the additional $2,000,000 is to fully fund the first phase of construction. Marlborough Sewers                                        $2,000,000 The City of Danbury has proposed to build sewers to service existing homes in the vicinity of Lake Kenosia .  The concern is that the septic systems servicing these homes are a potential pollution source for impacting the lake.  This proposed project is eligible for a twenty year loan at 2% per annum. Danbury West Side Sewers                              $5,600,000 Infiltration and Inflow These proposed infiltration and inflow (I/I) removal projects will result in less extraneous flows entering sanitary sewer collection systems.  This will translate into less overflows and allow for more stable operation of treatment plant.  The following projects are eligible for 20-year loans at 2% per year: Bridgeport I/I construction             $ 1,999,803 Middletown I/I construction             $4,229,000 In addition to these two identified projects, there is $35,000,000 for additional I/I projects to be funded at 2% loan over 20 years.  Projects will be funded on a first come, first served basis. “Green” Infrastructure Reserve Fund The Priority List contains a Reserve for “green” infrastructure for $29,100,000.  This reserve is to allow the state to comply with the ARRA green infrastructure requirement.  Projects that may be funded from this reserve include: ·        Green Capitols Project Demonstration project for the grounds of the State Capitol and other nearby state office buildings that would infiltrate wet weather runoff into the ground rather than piping it into the combined sewer system. ·        Energy Efficiency Projects to use alternative and renewal energy technologies to reduce the costly demand for electricity at waste water treatment plants. ·        Enfield ·        MDC ·        Norwich
	Bolton Republicans Oppose Sale of Notch Road Municipal Center Group Promotes Plan to Save Town Asset, Help Bolton Taxpayers The Bolton Republican Town Committee approved a measure 18-0 to oppose the sale of the Notch Road Municipal Center before voters formally accept a plan to expand Town Hall. The Bolton Republican Town Committee believes the Notch Road Municipal Center could be a lower-cost alternative if voters do not approve the $5 million expansion of Town Hall. Rather than selling the building, the committee wants the town to retain ownership until a plan for municipal and school space needs has been approved by referendum. “We need to decide just what is necessary, what realistic options are available, and what the community can afford,” said Jennifer Harvey, chairwoman of the Republican Town Committee. “The economy has brought many capital projects in towns to a grinding halt. The need hasn’t diminished, just the financial resources. Bolton has a resource and, for a fraction of the cost, could ease a space crunch at town hall and keep a piece of town history for future generations,” Harvey said. Republicans are rallying together and seeking community groups and citizens to join their grassroots effort. They hope a townwide front will persuade the Board of Selectmen to break off negotiations to sell. Only if voters decide the municipal center is not an integral part should the building be sold. The Bolton Republican Town Committee has outlined several reasons why the town should not sell the municipal center. Bolton requires more office space to adequately serve the community’s needs. Given today’s economic conditions, taxpayers may not be willing to accept the $4,875,000 addition to town hall as an affordable long-term solution. The Notch Road Municipal Center is an asset already owned by the town that could help alleviate overcrowding at town hall.  Several town offices are currently housed in the Notch Road Municipal Center. The town should have a comprehensive plan for the relocation of those offices before the building is sold or leased to a new tenant. That plan should have the community’s approval. Selling the Notch Road Municipal Center could prove to be an expedient, shortsighted option. Many communities sell or demolish what are viewed as extraneous municipal buildings and later regret those decisions when future needs arise. Zoning restrictions on the property and its proximity to the center school limit potential buyers’ use and expansion possibilities, thus lowering its market value. Relinquishing control of this property to a not-for-profit entity means it cannot be added to the Bolton grand list. And because the sale would most likely generate very little in actual revenue, it should not factor significantly in determining disposition of the property. Use of the Notch Road Municipal Center as a town facility is the most sustainable development option available to the community. It is an effective way to meet the town’s needs, while preserving the environment and minimizing the impact of development. Furthermore, if the Notch Road Municipal Center is sold, Bolton loses control over a building with local historical significance. For many growing up in Bolton this building served as the only community school, and they believe it has not yet outlived its usefulness.
	Governor Rell Announces New Web Site Allows Taxpayers to Review, Weigh In on Budget Governor M. Jodi Rell today announced that she has created a new Web site that gives taxpayers to opportunity review the entire two-year state budget, follow the most up-to-date changes and make recommendations on how to make state government more efficient. “We welcome scrutiny. We welcome ideas,” Governor Rell said. “These are challenging times that require leadership and ingenuity. Now is not the time to fight over who gets credit. This is not my budget, nor the Legislature’s. It belongs to the taxpayers of Connecticut who have a right to be part of the process, and most importantly, the solution.” The interactive budget can be accessed by clicking on the “Budget Forum” link on the Governor’s Web site at: www.ct.gov/governorrell. One of the prime features is the “Submit Ideas” section that provides an online suggestion form for the public to share suggestions on anything from the overall budget to state services. There are links to view the budgets of specific agencies and aid to cities and towns to as well as a link to view and download the entire 600-page document, which is divided into the following key areas: Tax Revenue Agency Budgets A comprehensive overview of state revenue and expenditures for Fiscal Years 2007-09 is depicted in colorful pie charts and easy-to-read graphics and also are spelled out in detail in text.  “The Web site is a wonderful educational tool. One quick look at the revenue chart, for example, taxpayers will know instantly that more than 42 percent of our revenue comes from personal income tax and 20 percent from sales tax. Those figures will really resonate with everyone as we hear forecasts on unemployment and consumer spending,” Governor Rell said. The site also includes the specifics of Governor Rell’s Deficit Mitigation Plan intended to close a $300 million budget shortfall and current and archived news releases on the economy and budget. “Taxpayers deserve to know how and where their dollars are being spent and the state budget has always been open to scrutiny,” Governor Rell said. “This new Web site makes it much easier to access that information and, I hope, give the public a clearer understanding of what we are facing in these challenging economic times.”
	Bolton Republican Town Committee Members The following citizens of Bolton currently serve as officers of the Republican Town Committee: Chairwoman - Jennifer Harvey; Vice-Chairman - David Treadwell; Secretary - Judy Wilson; Treasurer - Kim Converse. A complete listing of all members of the Bolton RTC is available on this website.