An advocacy group for Connecticut's cities and towns is calling attention to what it describes as the disproportionate burdens on poor communities.
A report from the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities describes higher poverty rates, education disparities, and increased crime rates in the state's distressed communities.
Nearly a third of Connecticut's municipalities are identified as distressed in the report released Wednesday. It said they face public service costs that tend to be higher than other places in Connecticut, and they have limited capacity to raise revenue to cover those expenses.
From CCM:
These municipalities are not limited to the largest cities, nor are they congregated around specific areas in the state. Although all of these municipalities are classified as distressed, they do not necessarily share the same types of hardships. They have varying population densities; disabled population rates; crime rates; and student dropout rates. Yet, they face some of the lowest per capita incomes; low percentages of the population with high school education; low per capita equalized net grand lists; and the highest poverty and unemployment rates.
The state's top 25 most distressed areas include the biggest cities, as well as some of the smallest municipalities, including Ansonia and Enfield.
The advocacy group urges the state to provide increased assistance to distressed cities and towns.
This report includes information from The Associated Press.
