State Senator Dan Debicella (R-21st) has submitted a series of legislative proposals to improve quality of life for Stratford residents. Senator Debicella’s proposals are aimed at a wide variety of issues impacting Stratford residents, from encouraging economic development to increasing education funding to protecting Long Island Sound.

“Economic growth is priority number one for Stratford,” Debicella said. “It enables everything else we want in the community—more jobs, funds for education, and improvement to our infrastructure.” Senator Debicella has submitted legislation that would designate the Stratford Army Engine Plant into an Enterprise Zone, which would help attract businesses to the area. “Businesses who move into the Stratford Army Engine Plant location will receive favorable tax status. After over a decade of sitting idle, we need every incentive possible to get new businesses on that site.”

Senator Debicella also proposed legislation to eliminate the current cap on Education Cost Sharing (ECS) funds. Back in 1992, a cap was imposed limiting how much ECS funding municipalities could receive from the state.

“This cap has unfairly hurt Stratford for years. Eliminating the cap would bring in an additional $3 million in state funding for Stratford’s schools each year. Our hardworking students and teachers deserve to get their fair share from the state,” said Senator Debicella.

Senator Debicella has also submitted a bill that, if approved, would result in significant state bond money for both a new turf football field at Bunnell High School and restorations at Boothe Memorial Park

Senator Debicella has also proposed that Bridgeport pay taxes to Stratford for Sikorsky Memorial Airport. “The airport is in a prime real estate location, and is used by many residents of other communities. In my eyes, it’s only fair that Bridgeport should be paying taxes to Stratford for owning and using this property.”

Senator Debicella also wants to determine the root causes of the flooding that took place in the Lordship area of Stratford.

“I am calling on the State’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to conduct a study not only to determine the causes of the flooding, but to make a series of recommendations for changes to the physical infrastructure in order to prevent future flooding,” stated Senator Debicella.

Senator Debicella is also carrying on George “Doc” Gunther’s commitment to Long Island Sound. Debicella is strongly opposing the proposed LNG natural gas pipeline. “We set a dangerous precedent if we allow industrialization in Long Island Sound,” Debicella said. “We take a huge risk to the environment of the Sound with few benefits for residents of Connecticut.”

Finally, Senator Debicella is seeking to prevent companies like Avalon Bay from forcing affordable housing on the residents of Stratford. His bill would prevent the courts from deciding zoning issues related to affordable housing. “I join State Representative Larry Miller (R-Stratford), who has been a leader on this issue, in fighting for local control of zoning.”

Senator Debicella was elected in November to his first term representing the 21st District, which is comprised of Stratford, Shelton, Seymour, and Monroe. He is an Assistant Minority Leader and serves as the Ranking Senator on the General Assembly’s Commerce Committee.