House Chair of the Legislature’s Transportation Committee, State Representative Tony Guerrera (D-Rocky Hill, Wethersfield, Newington) and members of the House Majority Caucus today called on Governor M. Jodi Rell to release millions in state aid that would fund paving projects and road repairs in cities and towns across the state.

“The governor’s decision to hold this funding will devastate local budgets,” Rep. Guerrera said. “She needs to make this grant money available to cities and towns immediately.”

Due to the current budget deficit, the governor proposed borrowing to cover road repair funds instead of the traditional method of issuing grants as part of the state operating budget.  To date, she has held back $30 million in Town Aid Road (TAR) from consideration by the State Bond Commission despite committing to the funding last year.   

“This state funding spurs economic growth.  Road repair projects put people to work and it is important for the state to invest in job growth,” Rep. Guerrera said.

TAR funding goes to all 169 cities and towns in the state and is usually dispersed in January and July each year.