Approps Committee Gets Earful

Gearing up for the special session next week to deal with the nearly $450-million budget deficit, social service providers from throughout the state decsended on the Capitol today in a public hearing from hell. One after another, people (there are about 300 signed up) are saying targeted cuts would cut into the bone of crucial services. Then there’s the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities, which wants to head off Gov. Rell’s proposed $84-million cut to aid to towns and cities.

Jim Finley, executive dirctor of the CCM, in his prepared remarks, urged the rejection of any slashes to muny aid. “Cuts in aid to towns and cities would equal increases in property taxes,” Finley said.