NL BUDGET GETS A HEARING
New London residents offer their thoughts on a 92-point-8 million dollar budget proposal for the upcoming fiscal year. The spending plan includes a 488-thousand dollar increase in taxpayer funding for the school district. That’s two million-dollars less than what the board of education had requested. Daniel Spurr says that’s not nearly enough. Meanwhile, New London resident Cheryl Lawrence says she wants the city to reduce spending, and that includes the school budget. A public hearing on the budget was held last night at the Science and Technology Magnet High School.
SOBER HOUSE OVERSIGHT PASSES
A bill to regulate Connecticut’s sober homes passed the House and likely will be heard on the Senate floor. The bill pushes sober home operators to seek certification from legitimate organizations. A similar bill passed the House last year but wasn’t voted on in the Senate. Jeanne Milstein, New London’s human services director, says the speed in which the state bill evolved shows how serious Connecticut is about tackling the sober homes, which typically aren’t subject to government regulation and sometimes feature dismal conditions. New London has been pushing the bill for months.
LYME-OL BUDGET SUPPORTED
Lyme and Old Lyme residents voted 408 to 111 to accept the 2018-19 education budget at a referendum Tuesday. The spending plan for Lyme-Old Lyme schools next year of $34.2 million represents a 1.97 percent increase over this year’s plan. The vote breakdown was 141-21 among Lyme residents and 267-90 among Old Lyme residents. Rising health insurance costs were the largest factor in the budget increase for next year.
STONINGTON BUDGET PASSES
Stonington voters have approved the proposed 2018-19 budget by a vote of 681-255 at Tuesday’s referendum. Only seven percent of the town’s 13,568 registered voters turned out to cast votes.
DEALER TO GET 20
A Groton man has pleaded guilty to drug charges in connection with the death of another Groton man in April 2017. Ulpiano Lugo’s plea stemmed from a statewide initiative targeting narcotics dealers who distribute heroin, fentanyl or opioids that cause death or serious injury to users. Lugo’s sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 1st. The charge carries a maximum of 20 years in prison.
NEW LIFE FOR SYNAGOGUE
The new owner of the former Beth El synagogue in New London will break ground on a renovation project today to create a regional school for children with special needs. A $5.1 million revamping of the 36,000-square-foot building is planned for the Ocean Avenue LEARNing Academy. LEARN, a regional educational center serves 25 towns in southeastern Connecticut. The new school, funded at an 80 percent state reimbursement rate, will consolidate LEARN’s special education division, and student support services programs, that provide specialized care for children with developmental disabilities and emotional and behavioral issues.
