State commission approves funding for road repairs

After several months of delays, Connecticut’s towns and cities will finally receive the tens of thousands of dollars in promised state aid to fix and repair their local roads.

On Tuesday, the State Bond Commission approved a total of $30 million in Town Aid for Roads (TAR), a portion of which is shared by each of Connecticut’s 169 municipalities.

The grants are typically released in January and July each year, but have yet to be distributed to towns for the current fiscal year.

State Rep. Annie Hornish (D-62) said due to the state budget deficit, Gov. M. Jodi Rell proposed borrowing to pay for this year’s road funds through bonding instead of the traditional method of issuing grants as part of the state operating budget.

Hornish — a Granby resident whose district includes New Hartford, portions of Barkhamsted, Granby and East Granby — said towns can anticipate receiving their individual TAR grants within the next 30 days.

“These funds help stabilize local property taxes and put people to work on projects that need to be done,� Hornish said in a March 12 press release. “Though I still don’t understand why the governor waited so long to act on these important grants, I am glad they are finally being released to our towns.�

State Rep. John Rigby (R-63) said communities throughout the state have  done a commendable job in trying to keep their town roads in shape absent the funding they’re used to.

“So the release of this money will be welcome news for them,� Rigby, a Colebrook resident, told The Journal Monday.

Rigby’s district includes Winchester, Colebrook, Hartland, Norfolk, portions of Barkhamsted, as well as Falls Village and North Canaan.

He added, however, that “the news isn’t all good� regarding the release of the grants.

“This could be the first time the state had to borrow this road repair money. That’s a clear indication that we need to make some significant, structural changes to our government,� Rigby said.

Local Town Aid for Road grants, according to the Connecticut Council of Municipalities, for the 2009-10 fiscal year are:

• Winchester — $149,906
• Barkhamsted – $98,469
• Colebrook — $99,790
• Hartland — $71,313
• New Hartford – $135,921
• Norfolk — $123,192

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