Senator Edith Prague's New Newsletter
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| Monday, July 30th 2007 |
SENATOR EDITH G. PRAGUE – 19TH DISTRICT
Hebron residents and their town officials ought to be pleased with results of this year’s protracted budget negotiations because as a result, the town is scheduled to receive significantly more state aid over the next two years.
It is hoped this will assist the town and its residents in two ways: first, with money to help underwrite the town’s ongoing expenses and second, by reducing the tax burden that would otherwise be borne by homeowners.
The largest boost in aid for Hebron is through the Education Cost Sharing grant program (ECS), the state’s workhorse for education funding and the means through which we made historic advances this year in such investments. As it stands Hebron will receive $896,201 more this fiscal year than last, and an additional $289,668 in Fiscal Year ’09.
All told, that’s $1.18 million more for public schools in Hebron and its students, raising the grant from $5,687,166 to $ 6,873,035.
The local school district will benefit in one other category as well. The Public School Pupil Transportation grant will be increased $2,542 this year, from $73,900 to $76,442. In light of dramatic increases in fuel costs and other transportation expenses, this increase will assuredly be put to good use by Hebron school officials.
Other state grant programs for Hebron remain largely unchanged, including the $119,441 Hebron receives through the Town Aid Road (TAR) grant program and the $15,000-plus for Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) for state-owned property.
The bottom line, approved in both chambers of the General Assembly and signed by the governor, means Hebron will receive $6,912,677 in this current fiscal year, up from $6,0220,965, and $7,202,345 in FY09. That’s undeniably good news for Hebron residents and town officials. |
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