Senate Leadership
May 1, 2006
Williams: Budget Adjustment Delivers for State Residents
Follows through on tax relief for cars, real estate and business; returns money to cities and towns
Senator Williams talks to members of the press outside the Senate Chamber minutes after passage of the state budget. (May 1, 2006)
State Senate President Pro Tempore Donald E. Williams, Jr. (D-Brooklyn) today applauded the 2006 budget adjustment passed today by the state Senate as a plan that provides tax relief for automobiles, real estate and businesses while returning money to cities and towns to keep local property taxes down. The spending plan also funds Senate Bill 1, "Connecticut Jobs for the 1st Century"-the most comprehensive economic development plan to come out of the General Assembly in recent memory.
"This is a classic case of using state resources to make significant investments in programs beneficial to the health, safety and education of Connecticut's residents, Sen. Williams said. "In addition, we are funding a cutting edge economic development program designed to create the kind of jobs needed to keep Connecticut vital and competitive in the 21st century. One the revenue side, we are reducing a number of taxes and providing tax credits designed to stimulate economic activities in the state. Finally, we are depositing approximately $350 million in the Rainy Day fund and fully funding the state teacher's retirement fund in both FY 06 and FY 07 with $246 million in surplus."
Included in the budget adjustment:
Taxes
- Property Tax credit increases from $400 to $500 in 2006
- A new tax deduction on the Personal Income tax for contributions made to the Connecticut Higher Education Trust
- On the Business Income tax, a credit is provided for the restoration and rehabilitation of historic property
- The Property Tax on manufacturing and recycling machinery is eliminated
- The new budget eliminates the 15% corporation tax surcharge for the 2007 income year
- A new tax credit that encourages job creation is added to the corporation business tax
Town Aid
- $33 million returned to cities and towns to help offset rising property taxes.
- An additional $20 million to help local schools pay for special education
- $2 million for the maintenance of local roads thru the Town Aid Road grant.
Education
- Funding to create two new Charter schools and to provide ongoing operating support for current Charter schools
- Increased Early Childhood Education Funding by $6.5 million
- New funding for school nutrition--$3 million
- $6 million for Priority school districts
Higher Education
- $2 million for the Capitol Scholarship Program
- $2 million in funding for faculty recruitment in high technology fields at UConn
- An additional $1.6 million for the higher education constituent units to make up for funding cuts made in previous years
- New state funding to support expiring federal grants for minority education in the health professions
- $3.35 million for the Higher Ed. matching grant program
Human Services
- $40 million to help stabilize Connecticut's nursing homes
- An additional $1 million for the burial of indigents
- $13 million in additional funding in Medicaid rates for "fragile hospitals". $5 million for other hospitals.
- Increased funding of $3.3 million for Home care services
- An additional $5.l million to help SAGA healthcare providers
- $5.5 million for the Connecticut Cancer Partnership of which $1 million is set aside for Breast and Cervical cancer prevention
- $1 million for a new Autism Pilot
- A new investment of $2 million for infrastructure development and Community Based mental health programs
- Additional support for school based health clinics
- $625,000 for a new intensive family reunification program
- An additional $1.26 million in support for housing programs
General Government
- $4 million is provided for employment training for at risk urban youth
- A new office that will advocate on behalf of business is funded with over $535,000
- Over $7 million in new funding is provided for job training
- $500,000 in funding for 15 new park maintainers
- $1.3 million in new support for culture and arts activities
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Senator Williams’ Larry Cook |
Listing of Leadership’s recent press releases. |
Senator Looney’s Larry Cook |
