Will the Federal Government Shutdown Affect Avon?

With many non-essential government employees out on furlough and several federal establishments shut down, Avon officials are waiting to hear whether there will be any impact locally. 

The short answer is that Avon is not currently seeing the government shutdown trickle down to the municipal level. 

But Avon Assistant Town Manager Steve Bartha said that the town is keeping an eye on an Individual with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) grant the town is expecting to offset special education costs. The grant is a "pass-through from the federal government, he said.

"We really don't know," Bartha said.

State Sen. Kevin Witkos (R-8), who represents Avon and other Farmington Valley towns at the state level, said that "while the impact to Connecticut is minimal at this time, Congress needs to put aside the political one upsmanship and find common ground."  

"Obamacare is the law of the land and recognize the fact that we are in a stalemate position," Witkos wrote in an email to Patch. "That said, special exemptions for Congress, unions and others should not be allowed under federal law.  While others are being treated differently,  we are all Americans and should be treated equally.

"There are too many questions to be answered to have people signed up by Dec 15 otherwise they must wait until next year. Do they pay the penalty through their taxes," he added. "I haven't the answer. I believe we should all have some type of insurance whether or not it's private pay, employer sponsored or some combination.  Healthcare reform is the true answer. Treat the patient and not the insurance policies or potential lawsuits."

On the business side, Avon's PayHub gives this outline on how the shutdown may affect employers. 

But the good news locally is that Avon is currently anticipating under $3 million in funding from the state and federal government on the approved $81.76 million for 2013-14, according to Bartha. 

Have you personally been affected by the federal government shutdown or are you out on furlough from your job? Is your agency or organization in Avon or the area affected? Tell us your story in the comments or email Jessie.Sawyer@patch.com.