Connecticut Senate Bill SB00773

Connecticut 2023 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/19/23
• Refer: 1/19/23

Caption

An Act Providing Reimbursement Percentage Incentives In The School Building Project Grant Program For Towns That Meet Certain Affordable Housing Thresholds.

Impact

The proposed changes in SB00773 are expected to encourage towns to create more affordable housing options, addressing a significant issue in the state related to housing availability and affordability. By linking school funding to the provision of affordable housing, the bill attempts to provide a financial incentive for towns to prioritize housing projects that can help meet community needs, particularly for families and students. This aligns with broader state goals of increasing affordable housing stock and improving educational infrastructure.

Summary

SB00773 aims to amend the existing school building project grant program by increasing reimbursement percentages for local boards of education based on their town's provision of affordable housing. This bill introduces a tiered incentive structure, where towns achieving certain thresholds of affordable housing will receive varied reimbursement percentages for school construction projects. Specifically, towns meeting or exceeding a ten percent affordable housing threshold can receive a twenty percent increase, while those meeting eight to ten percent and six to eight percent thresholds will receive an eight percent and five percent increase, respectively.

Contention

While the bill presents an innovative approach to tackle affordable housing through education funding, there may be concerns regarding the practical implications of its reimbursement structure. Critics might argue that setting these thresholds could disproportionately affect towns with lower current levels of affordable housing, creating disparities in school funding based on housing policies. Further discussions among stakeholders, including local education boards and housing advocates, will be essential to assess if the incentives effectively promote the intended outcomes without unintended negative consequences.