With two weeks left in her term, Connecticut’s retiring Gov. M. Jodi Rell shepherded the approval Wednesday of millions of dollars in bond funds for local capital projects across the state, The Associated Press reports.
Missing from the list of initiatives, however, was $81.5 million for 38 commuter rail cars for the New Haven line. While disappointed she couldn’t see the rail car-upgrade through to completion, the Republican governor said she understood State Bond Commission members felt Connecticut already had ordered enough with 342 cars.
“I just wanted to make sure that we could take advantage of the contract that we have and could get them at the best price,” said Rell, who leaves office on Jan. 5.
Rell said the additional cars would have been useful as the state builds a high-speed line from New Haven to Springfield, Mass. It’s unclear whether Democratic Gov.-elect Dan Malloy will seek funding for the cars.
At a commission meeting two weeks earlier, it was uncertain whether enough voice votes were cast for various projects, including the rail cars. Rell’s legal staff listened to audio tapes of the meeting before finally deciding to redo the meeting before Rell left office.
While the rail cars were scrapped from the agenda, funding for a laundry list of local projects was approved. The list included $375,000 for safety and lighting upgrades to the Hillcrest Middle School pool in Trumbull; $700,000 to help build a new police station in Montville; $1 million to help with renovations at the Mystic Aquarium and Institute for Exploration; $3.7 million to help build a YMCA facility in Putnam; and $250,000 for a playground in Rell’s hometown of Brookfield.
In total, the commission approved more than $20 million in general obligation bonds Wednesday to pay for the projects.
The governor defended the borrowing, saying the initiatives are necessary for many of the communities.
Her two fellow Republican members of the commission opposed the decision to borrow millions of dollars, arguing the state cannot afford it.
“I think we are doing a disservice to the public, to the taxpayer and to everyone in Connecticut by pretending we can afford to light playing fields and build playgrounds when we are at an edge of a precipice from which the fall is going to be very long and very hard,” said state Sen. Andrew Roraback, R-Goshen.
Rell said she limited state borrowing during her administration, but said it is a necessary function of government.
“I understand, but these are also commitments that have been made and towns that are looking forward to the funds. I made those commitments and I’m going to honor that,” Rell said.
