House Republican Press Release

June 23, 2007

Press Office: 860-240-8700

Rep. Hamzy:  2008-09 Budget Increases Education Aid for Plymouth

Package Provides Overall Increase in Education Cost Sharing Grant of $1,317,748

Plymouth will see its Education Cost Sharing grant increase by $1,317,748 under the 2008-09 budget approved by the state House of Representatives early Saturday morning, state Representative William A. Hamzy announced today.

“The 2008-09 budget we adopted early this morning both holds the line on taxes and provides Plymouth with an increase in education aid that will help prevent the kinds of sharp increases in property tax rates that have led to tax revolts in many Connecticut communities,” said Representative Hamzy, R-78^th District.

“While I would have preferred a budget that restrained state spending significantly more than this one does, given the Democrat majorities in both the state House and Senate, this package is better than I expected it would be at the beginning of the 2007 legislative session. Both the budget proposed by the governor in February and the Democrats’ original proposal unveiled in April would have substantially increased the tax burden on the people of Connecticut, Representative Hamzy said.

Plymouth’s Education Cost Sharing grant increases from $8,433,186 in 2007 to $9,339,975 in 2008 and to $9,750,934 in 2009, for an overall increase of $1,317,748.