Life Star helicopters face state funding cut

[Geppetto 31]

Life Star helicopters face state funding cut

By Brian Lockhart

Stamford Advocate

06/21/2009

HARTFORD -- Last August two children were badly hurt in an accident near Interstate 95 exit 9 in Stamford, and Life Star helicopters transported them to Yale-New Haven Hospital. ...

Now supporters say the program will be crippled if legislators endorse a funding cut that Gov. M. Jodi Rell proposed to help fill a gaping budget deficit.

"We probably more likely than not would need to cut our aircraft," said Dr. Kenneth Robinson, medical and program director of Life Star.

According to Robinson, Life Star's budget is about $6 million a year, and Rell proposed eliminating the state subsidy of $1.39 million.

Eliminating one of the helicopters would equal a 40 percent cut in service, Robinson said. Life Star transports about 1,400 patients annually.

Such cuts are preferable to tax increases, Rell has said. Three weeks ago Rell released a revised budget proposal for fiscal years 2009-10 and 2010-11. Democratic leaders have pledged to fight the proposal as they negotiate a final budget deal. ...

http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/localnews/ci_12661095