February 28, 2009 4:07 pm

Rell Proposes To Cut Norwalk Bonds Out Of Budget

Actually, Governor Rell is proposing a cut to all bonds that were state aides to�municipalities�out of the budget, but I like to keep a focus on Norwalk. The Courant reports on�Saturday, so this means a Friday press release, which means that the weekend media instead of the weekday media: �”Gov. M.�Jodi Rell�has proposed canceling $389 million in state and local bond projects, forcing cash-strapped towns to decide whether they can, or want to, fund their own dreams.”

So what’s affected. The Courant provides a handy database to search by town.

Department	Project	Town	Authorized	Allocations	Cancelled Balance
Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism	Grant-in-aid to the Norwalk Seaport Association for infrastructure renewal projects	Norwalk	$500,000.00	$250,000.00	$250,000.00
Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism	Grant-in-aid to the Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum in Norwalk for infrastructure renewal projects	Norwalk	$1,000,000.00	$0.00	$1,000,000.00
Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism	Grant-in-aid to the city of Norwalk for the Maritime Aquarium to defray financial obligations incurred for construction of the Environmental Education Center	Norwalk	$400,000.00	$0.00	$400,000.00
Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism	Grant-in-aid to Stepping Stones Museum for Children in Norwalk for expansion of the facility	Norwalk	$400,000.00	$0.00	$400,000.00
Department of Environmental Protection	Grant-in-aid to the city of Norwalk for improvements in the flood control system	Norwalk	$3,005,000.00	$0.00	$3,005,000.00
Department of Environmental Protection	Grant-in-aid to the city of Norwalk for harbor dredging	Norwalk	$1,000,000.00	$0.00	$1,000,000.00
Department of Environmental Protection	Grant-in-aid to the Norwalk River Rowing Association, Incorporated, for construction of a boathouse	Norwalk	$250,000.00	$0.00	$250,000.00
Department of Public Health	Grants-in-aid for hospital-based emergency service facilities, provided (A) up to $ 1,500,000 shall be made available to the Hospital of Central Connecticut, (B) up to $ 500,000 shall be made available to Griffin Hospital, (C) up to $ 1,000,000 shall be made available to Johnson Memorial Hospital, (D) up to $ 1,000,000 shall be made available to Backus Hospital, (E) up to $ 878,050 shall be made available to Norwalk Hospital, and (F) up to $ 1,000,000 shall be made available to Midstate Medical Center in Meriden	Norwalk	$5,878,050.00	$0.00	$5,878,050.00
Department of Transportation	Grant-in-aid to the Norwalk Transit District, for construction of a bus depot	Norwalk	$250,000.00	$0.00	$250,000.00
Dept. of Economic and Community Development	Grant-in-aid to the Norwalk Transit District for renovations, upgrades, technology improvement, lighting and a new security system related to pulse point safety and security enhancements	Norwalk	$153,000.00	$0.00	$153,000.00
Dept. of Economic and Community Development	Grants-in-aid to municipalities and organizations that are exempt from taxation under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, for cultural and entertainment-related economic development projects, including projects at museums, provided (A) $ 1,000,000 shall be made available for the Bridgeport Downtown Cabaret, (B) $ 250,000 shall be made available for capital improvements to the Augustus Curtis Cultural Center in Meriden, and (C) $ 625,000 shall be made available to the town of Norwalk for the Norwalk Maritime Museum	Norwalk	$6,000,000.00	$500,000.00	$5,500,000.00
Dept. of Economic and Community Development	Grants-in-aid to municipalities and organizations that are exempt from taxation under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, for cultural and entertainment-related economic development projects, including projects at museums, not exceeding $ 4,000,000, provided $ 625,000 shall be made available to the town of Norwalk for the Norwalk Maritime Museum	Norwalk	$4,000,000.00	$0.00	$4,000,000.00

source: Courant,�Rell Proposes Canceling Funds For City, Town Projects,�By SHAWN R. BEALS, February 28, 2009

Rita

Yeah, let’s cut out all the quality of life stuff and investment in our future. As if everyone is not depressed enough in this economy. So, let’s see what is left, oh, drinking, forgot no one has any money. What’s left…… we could wait to invest later, when it costs more, now there’s a brilliant idea.
meridenite

There is no cash left in the till.
Anonymous

Norwalk Maritime Museum? Why is this the first time I’m hearing about this?
Secondhand Rose

This is nothing new. During a recession, the first thing that always goes is the tourism money. It happened back in the 90′s. Doesn’t anyone remember President Bubba closing all those national parks across the country with the excuse of a lack of operating funds?
A Rose by any other Name

Seems that Misinformed Rose AGAIN proves to be wrong. This from a National Park Service article…

” In the 1990′s President Clinton proposed adding $250 million to NPS coffers as part of his economic stimulus package, but his proposal was refused by Congress because of concerns over the federal deficit. As a result, the NPS fell over $30 million shy of the $986 million it needed to maintain the previous year’s level of service. In the fall of 1995, the federal government found itself without operating cash, as Congress wrestled with the annual budget. Several shutdowns of non-essential government jobs followed, with national parks across the country locking their gates.”
Secondhand Rose

“Several shutdowns of non-essential government jobs followed, with national parks across the country locking their gates.�

Exactly my point.

And YOUR point is?……….
A Rose by any other Name

The point is on whom you place the blame – a president requesting funding or a Congress not granting it forcing a shutdown. I hope that’s clear enough for you…
Secondhand Rose

Nope, not “clear enough” at all. I know what I said; I’m still wondering what YOU’RE trying to say.

Seeing as how WE BOTH have made MY point, that is.
Old Timer

Rose, the difference is you said President Bubba closed all those national parks across the country and the fact is President Clinton asked for funding for the park service as part of his economic stimulus program and congress blocked it. The Park service didn’t get enough moeny to keep the parks opne and there were closings.
They were hardly Clinton’s doing.
Secondhand Rose

Clinton didn’t close the parks but they were closed under his administration, were they not? That makes it Clinton’s responsibility. Whether or not Clinton closed the parks on purpose or because he didn’t get the funding doesn’t matter. It was still done under his administration and in his name. So – my saying “Doesn�t anyone remember President Bubba closing all those national parks across the country with the excuse of a lack of operating funds?” is indeed stating the FACTS of the situation. The parks WERE closed; they WERE closed because of lack of operating funds; and they WERE closed under Clinton.
You people need to quit attempting to twist others’ words to fit your skewed scenarios.
A Rose by any Other Name

OT, you are correct in your explanation. But it is like arguing with a drunk. SHR is unable to “get it”. Plus it is a waste of your (and my) brainpower to try to explain thngs to someone like that.
HUH

She’s rightand you two are wrong. The parks were not closed by Congress. The parks were closed by Clinton because Gingrich would not pass a budget with other spending that Clinton wanted. The Parks were not closed because of insufficient funds per se but because there was not new authority to fund them along with the rest of the federal budget. Look it up, if you are to young to remember, Old Timer? Clinton used his executive authroity to decide what federal programs would close pending passage of the budget.

In other words Clinton pulled a Corda. He closed popular programs, parks like Yellowstone and memorials in Washington to get Republicans to pass a budget that funded other waste. Just like Corda threatens sports evertime his budget is cut instead of cutting central office. Bottom line it was not the R’s it was Clinton who decided to and did close the parks and of course after public out cry about park closings, Clinton won and Gingrich lost.
turfgrrl

The power to fund rests with Congress, and the Executive branch didn’t pass a last minute bill to keep government going. The decision of what to shut down was all non essential non emergency related offices. See the International Times Herald from 1995 for details.
turfgrrl

anonymous 3: From the City of Norwalk web site:
Maritime Aquarium:

In addition to the aforementioned municipal services, the City also owns and has certain oversight responsibilities for the Maritime Aquarium. The Aquarium offers extensive educational and recreational programs focussed on the maritime history and marine life of Long Island Sound. The Aquarium, which now attracts more than 550,000 visitors annually, includes a Maritime history museum, aquarium and IMAX theater. The day-to-day operations of the Aquarium are carried out by the Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk, Inc., a non-profit corporation which has a long term lease from the Maritime Aquarium Authority to operate the facility. The Maritime Aquarium Authority is a governmental body created pursuant to state statute and the Norwalk City Code to oversee the development and operation of the Aquarium. Construction of the Maritime Aquarium was financed through the issuance of Maritime Authority bonds, which carry the full faith and credit guarantee of the City of Norwalk. The Maritime Aquarium has embarked on a major expansion project which will provide for additional educational facilities, an expanded gift shop and food services operation, new exhibit space and other enhancements to the Aquarium�s appeal and identity. The first phase is due to be completed during calendar year 2000 with the expansion into the former Hatch and Bailey building adjacent to the Maritime Aquarium. The total cost of this three phase expansion project is estimated at $20 million. The City has financed $2.025 million of its own money as a loan to the Aquarium to allow them to continue the project. Under the terms of the loan agreement, the Aquarium is required to reimburse the City for debt service costs.

circa 2000
brian lockhart

Actually The Advocate had this story a month ago and how it would impact local cities and towns.

Municipal projects would lose millions
HARTFORD — Lower Fairfield County cities and towns stand to lose millions in state loans for projects ranging from flood control in Norwalk, mobile mamography in Stamford and museum expansion in Greenwich, under one of Gov. M. Jodi Rell’s plans for closing the state budget gap.

Saying long-term debt “will crush our children” and is “bankrupting” the state, Rell during her budget address Wednesday proposed canceling as much as $400 million in bond authorizations racked up over the past five years.

Up for cancellation is more than $3 million to alleviate flooding in the Buckingham Place-Lockwood Lane neighborhood off East Avenue in Norwalk.

“These will hit us hard,” state Rep. Christopher Perone, D-Norwalk, said, noting Rell’s list also includes $1 million to help dredge Norwalk harbor. “Those are two that we were really counting on.”

Also on the block are funds for the Norwalk River Rowing Association, the Norwalk Seaport Association, the Norwalk Maritime Aquarium, Stepping Stones Museum for Children, the Lockwood Mathews Mansion and the Norwalk Transit District.

“The whole county got hit pretty hard,” Perone said.

Stamford stands to lose more than $3 million for projects ranging from the restoration of Holly Pond and various park improvements to money for a health department mobile medical unit and a digital mobile mammography unit at Stamford Hospital.

“We were all excited we got it on there,” Rep. Carlo Leone, D-Stamford, said of the mammography unit. “The governor, being a person who survived (breast cancer), we would think it would be something she’d be inclined to release. That never happened.”

Rell as chairwoman of the state Bond Commission sets the group’s agenda and decides what money is loaned to municipalities. The commission typically meets once a month in good times and can go months without convening in tough budget years.

Democratic lawmakers in previous legislative sessions, frustrated by the backlog of authorized projects, have threatened to try to strip the governor of that power but have never moved forward.

Stamford Democratic Mayor Dannel Malloy, who is exploring running for governor in 2010, said Rell is playing games by talking about canceling the bond funds.

“She wasn’t going to release them anyway,” he said. “The governor’s been sitting on some of those for so long I don’t think anyone was holding their breath.”

But Malloy acknowledges Stamford was counting on a $500,000 contribution to its $16 million overhaul of the city’s police and fire radio systems.

“She’s shifted the burden to Stamford taxpayers,” he said.

Susan Gold, executive director of the Westport Historical Society, said that organization knew the legislature a few years ago had set aside $600,000 in bonds to help retire outstanding debt from a 2003 renovation.

But she said it was considered “pie in the sky” money and the society has continued fundraising while it awaited the state aid. She said the debt is down to $200,000.

“We’d love to have that paid off,” Gold said. “But we know things are being cut back.”

Rell’s list of proposed cancelled bonds also includes $1 million for work at the Levitt Pavilion for the Performing Arts in Westport.

In 2007, Greenwich’s Republican legislators hailed the inclusion in the bond package of $1.5 million for a campaign to renovate and expand the Bruce Museum.

Rell released $750,000 of that last year, but the balance is on her list of cancellations.

Rep. Livvy Floren, R-Greenwich, believed the project could be delayed, but it will not be a huge hit to the museum.

“I think they were thrilled they got the $750,000. That enabled them to get started on architectural and engineering drawings,” Floren said. “They have a very solid following in the region and an active and energized board of trustees.”