State Rep. Kim Fawcett (D-Fairfield, Westport) and Joe Mioli (D-Westport) announced that the legislature has approved a plan under which Westport will receive $67,000 in state grants to pay for winter heating costs at its public schools.
The distribution plan was approved during a recent joint meeting of the General Assembly’s Appropriations and Energy Committees. The money is part of the energy assistance package passed by the legislature in August.
Mioli said, “I am happy to announce that these funds are coming to Westport. Even though it is not a very large sum of money, nevertheless it will help offset the increase in the cost of heating fuel this winter.”
Fawcett said, “We are all pleased to continue to work together to advocate for our children and their schools, during these tough times every little bit will help.”
Checks under this program will be issued within the next few weeks.
The legislature’s previously approved energy assistance package includes more than $75 million in heating help that will go to tens of thousands of families across Connecticut to heat their homes this winter.
Eligibility information on the home heating assistance programs can obtained by calling the state#8217;s Infoline at 2-1-1 or the Department of Social Services at (800)842-1132.
This is very nice. The State of Connecticut collects money from its citizens and returns it to its citizens. What did we accomplish?
Am I reading this correctly?? l am dumfounded. What an absolute shame that Westport feels the need to take state money to ‘offset’ fuel costs for our public schools. I find it hard to believe Westport is having a problem with heating our schools and while most certainly our children are of utmost importance, how about that money going to provide assitance for their families who might be in a most dire time of need during the winter to keep their homes warm. I am just shocked that Mr. Mioli would reference a grant like that as “not being a large sum a money but neverthelss….” as if the expectation was to be MORE, but I guess “We’ll have to make due.” What ever happened to being thankful for what we have and receive and appropriating grants such as these for things or communities which absolutely could benefit from them. P.S. I just locked into an oil rate lower then I have seen in many years. If Westport is indeed having a problem, whos negotiating our contracts?