How Enfield Plans To Spend A Surprise $300K

ENFIELD, CT — A one-time $300,000 state payment tied to Enfield’s correctional facilities is expected to be split between EMS equipment and repairs at municipal and school buildings.

Town councilors agreed in principle during an Aug. 3 special meeting to direct $15,000 to EMS projects and the remaining $285,000 toward critical infrastructure repairs. The discussion did not include a formal vote.

Town Manager Matthew Coppler said the additional Prison PILOT funding was intended to help Enfield cover the cost of responding to medical calls at state correctional facilities. However, the money will enter the town’s general fund and is not restricted to EMS expenses, according to meeting minutes.

Half of the allocation will be paid to the town upfront, while the other half will reimburse approved expenses.

Town officials had discussed the possibility of receiving the funding while preparing the current budget but did not include it because they did not know how much Enfield would receive or how the money would be distributed.

Because the payment is expected to be a one-time allocation, Coppler recommended using it for equipment or construction instead of adding continuing expenses to the town budget.

Among the EMS purchases discussed were medication infusion pumps that were not funded in the budget. Coppler estimated the pumps would cost about $15,000. Councilors also mentioned lock boxes used to secure medications.

Possible uses for the remaining money include repairing leaking pipes and flood damage at the Enfield Annex, replacing aging electrical panels in schools and addressing other building problems considered at risk of failure.

Councilors also floated temporary repairs at the former Fermi High School, improvements to the Hazardville Institute parking lot, unexpected election expenses and a replacement bus for the Police Explorers. Those projects were not included in the council’s final consensus.

The town was notified of the additional funding on July 28 and was required to submit a proposed spending plan to the state by Aug. 13, according to the council packet. A final list of projects was not included with the Aug. 3 meeting documents.