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Ridgefield Enjoys 27% Increase In Estimated State Aid

FAIRFIELD COUNTY, Conn. — Danbury, Norwalk, Ridgefield, and Wilton are seeing an estimated increase of more than 20 percent in state aid from 2011 to 2016, according to figures released Friday by the state Office of Policy and Management.

The state released state aid numbers Friday.

The state released state aid numbers Friday.

Photo Credit: Gov. Dan Malloy via Twitter @GovMalloyOffice

Poll
Do you think the state provides enough aid to your hometown?
Final Results Voting Closed

Do you think the state provides enough aid to your hometown?

  • Yes
    8%
  • No
    83%
  • I'm not sure
    8%

Other towns with double-digit increases include Bridgeport, Easton, Greenwich, Redding, Stamford, Weston and Westport. 

In the current fiscal year (Fiscal Year 2016), the state will provide over $3.2 billion in aid to towns and cities, $2.76 billion in education cost-sharing aid and $437 million in general aid to municipal general governments, according to the data.

Here are the town-by-town figures showing the amount of aid for 2016, followed by the 2011 amount, the increase and the percentage increase:

• Bridgeport’s grants are $207,299,181 up from $187,938,652, an increase of $19,360, 529 or 10 percent; 

• Danbury’s grants were estimated to be $39,435,640 up from $29,502,908, an increase of $9,932,733, or 34 percent; 

• Darien’s grants were estimated to be $2,182,585 up from $2,015,513, an increase of $167,072, or 8 percent; 

• Easton’s grants were estimated to be $962,398 up from $842,055, an increase of $120,343 or 14 percent; 

• Fairfield’s grants were estimated to be $7,611,892 up from $7,039,243, an increase of $572,649 or 8 percent; 

• Greenwich’s grants were estimated to be $5,556,406 up from $5,022,847, an increase of $533,559, or 11 percent; 

• New Canaan’s grants were estimated to be $1,989,630 up from $1,828,089, an increase of $161,541 or 9 percent; 

• Norwalk’s grants were estimated to be $17,590,489 up from $14,296,760, an increase of $3,293,729 or 23 percent; 

• Redding’s grants were estimated to be $1,208,276 up from $1,087,501, an increase of $120,775 or 11 percent; 

• Ridgefield’s grants were estimated to be $3,315,924 up from $2,611,878, an increase of $704,046 or 27 percent; 

• Stamford’s grants were estimated to be $18,010,307 up from $15,346,152, an increase of $2,664,155 or 17 percent; 

• Weston’s grants were estimated to be $1,281,978 up from $1,156,706, an increase of $125,273 or 11 percent; 

• Westport’s grants were estimated to be $3,480,568 up from $3,174,760, an increase of $305,808, or 10 percent; and  

• Wilton’s grants were estimated to be $2,396,001 up from $1,931,253, an increase of $464,748 or 24 percent.

“We are extremely pleased to be able to increase state aid even in the state's challenging fiscal environment this year, and over the last five years,” Ben Barnes, Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, said in a statement. “State aid holds down property taxes. Municipalities spend more than $13 billion statewide, so state aid pays for roughly one-third of all local services. Without that aid local governments would have to make up the difference or cut services.”

Formula aid to municipalities has increased by $419.7 million (15 percent) since 2011, when they received $2.8 billion in state assistance. The largest grant to municipalities remains the Education Cost Sharing Grant, which provides $2.06 billion to communities and their educational programs.

In addition, there are also over $800 million in new state bond authorizations for municipal school construction, local transportation projects, open space, clean water projects and various other non-formula programs that are not included in the estimates booklet.

Estimates of State Formula Aid To Municipalities can be found here.

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