|
Education Funding Reform
The Board of Selectmen are encouraging all Durham residents to write their representatives regarding support for changing the Education Cost Sharing Program.
Please see an example of a form letter and a listing of state and local representatives for your use.
Date
Name and
Address of Official
Re: Education Funding Reform
Dear (name):
Connecticut needs meaningful education funding reform in order to lower the property tax burden on citizens in towns such as Durham; where close to 80% of the taxes go to education costs.
Unfunded state and federal mandates have caused local school budgets to spiral upwards to the point where many of our senior citizens living on fixed-incomes find it extremely difficult to meet their tax obligations. Add to that increasing land values, that make it difficult for our younger residents to afford housing here, and a sad, long-term picture emerges: a significant change in the demographics and culture of Durham.
Will Durham lose the wisdom and stability that our seniors contribute to our town? Where will we find our new volunteers to man our emergency services? Will Durham remain a town where people of all means and occupations add to the richness of our culture?
We are very proud of our schools and want to maintain the quality of education they provide, but maintaining the quality of life in Durham is equally important and requires a fair share of tax revenues. Reforming the way we fund education can provide the funds necessary to balance our tax load and ensure preservation of Durham’s small town values and character.
Please help.
Yours truly,
Your Name
And Address
(see contacts below)
U.S. AND STATE OFFICIALS
US SENATORS
Ø
CHRISTOPHER DODD (D)
Washington Office:
U.S. Senate
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: (202) 224-2823
Connecticut Office:
Putnam Park, 100 Great Meadow Road
Wethersfield, CT 06109
Phone: (860) 258-6940 In-state toll free: (800) 334-5341
Email: http://dodd.senate.gov/webmail/
Internet: http://dodd.senate.gov
Ø
JOE LIEBERMAN (D)
Washington Office:
706 Hart Office Building, Washington, DC 20510
Phone: (202) 224-4041
Connecticut Office:
1 State Street, Suite 1420, Hartford, CT 06103
Phone: (860) 549-8463 Toll Free: (800) 225-5605
Email: senator_lieberman@lieberman.senate.gov
Internet: http://lieberman.senate.gov/
CONGRESSMEN
Ø
ROSA DELAURO (D) (3rd District)
Washington Office:
436 Cannon Office Building, Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-3661 FAX: (202) 225-4890
Connecticut Office:
59 Elm Street, New Haven, CT 06510
Phone: (203) 562-3718
Internet: www.house.gov/delauro
Middletown Office:
Staffed on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of every month, 8:30-5:30.
Middletown City Hall, Room B-20, 245 DeKoven Drive, Middletown, CT 06457
Phone: (860) 344-1159
Ø
JOE COURTNEY (2nd District)
Washington Office:
215 Cannon Office Building, Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-2076 FAX: (202) 225-4977
Connecticut Office:
2 Courthouse Square, 5th Floor, Norwich, CT 06360
Phone: (860) 886-0139 FAX: (860) 886-2974
Internet: http://courtney.house.gov/
GOVERNOR
Ø
M. JODI RELL (R)
State Capitol, Room 200, Hartford, CT 06106
Phone: (860) 566-4840
Internet: http://www.ct.gov/governorrell
E-mail: Governor.Rell@po.state.ct.us
STATE SENATOR 12TH DISTRICT
Ø
E
DWARD MEYER (D)
Connecticut Office:
Legislative Office
Building Room 1000
Hartford, CT 06106
Phone: (860) 240-0527 Toll Free: (800) 842-1420 Fax: (860) 240-8833
Internet - http://www.senatedems.ct.gov/Meyer.html
Email - meyer@senatedems.ct.gov
STATE REPRESENTATIVE 100TH DISTRICT
Ø
RAYMOND C. KALINOWSKI (R)
Connecticut Office:
Legislative Office Building, Room 4055, Hartford, CT 06106
Phone: General (800) 842-1423 FAX (860) 240-0207
Assistant: John Vamous
Internet - http://www.housegop.state.ct.us/pages/kalinowski.htm
Email raymond.kalinowski@po.state.ct.us
PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE 29TH DISTRICT
Ø
DONALD WILLIAMS, JR. (D)
Legislative Office Building, Room 3300, Hartford, CT 06106-1591
Phone: 860-240-8600, 1-800-842-1420
Internet – http://www.senatedems.ct.gov
Email Williams@senatedems.ct.gov
STATE REPRESENTATIVE
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE
Ø JAMES A. AMANN
Legislative Office Building, Room 4105, Hartford, CT 06106-1591
Phone: 860-240-8500, 1-800-842-1902
Internet – http://www.cga.ct.gov
Email Jim.Amann@cga.ct.gov
|