Lamont Releases Proposal for Use Of $6 Billion In Federal Funds

CONNECTICUT – As Connecticut prepares to receive over $6 billion in federal coronavirus recovery money, state officials have begun to think hard about how they want to spend it.

Gov. Ned Lamont gave his proposal to the Connecticut General Assembly on Monday. The hand-off is in compliance with a recent law that also requires the legislature to create its own porposal by May 16. Both propositions will then be subject to final negotiations between the two branches of government.

The governor's proposal makes investments in five key areas: Defeating COVID-19, investing in the future, creating a more affordable Connecticut through programs in childcare and education, economic growth, and modernizing state government."

Under Lamont's proposal, about half of the funding from the American Rescue Plan Act will go to local cities and towns, including schools, and the remainder will go to the state and some state-sponsored programs.

Lamont said, "Our proposal places a special emphasis on equity, investments in children and families, and making our state even more prepared in the event of another public health emergency or crisis. This is a unique moment for Connecticut, and by maximizing the utility of these resources, we can continue putting our state on an upward trajectory for the remainder of the pandemic, the recovery, and into the future."