SEN. FLEXER, REP. BOYD, REP. HAYES, SEN. GORDON SECURE HARD-FOUGHT $10 MILLION IN STATE BUDGET FOR DAY KIMBALL HOSPITAL
PUTNAM – The Quiet Corner legislative delegation of state Senator Mae Flexer, state Representatives Pat Boyd (D-Pomfret) and Rick Hayes (R-Putnam), and state Senator Jeff Gordon (R-Union) announced today that the new two-year state budget includes $10 million in state aid for Day Kimball Hospital in Putnam.
Day Kimball will receive $8 million by June 30, 2024 to help maintain essential health services in the community — including 24-hour emergency services, obstetrics, behavioral health, and relevant specialty care and primary care services — and another $2 million by June 30, 2025.
“Day Kimball provides critical health services to the people of Northeastern Connecticut, and this funding will help ensure that the hospital can continue serving the local community,” Governor Ned Lamont said.
“As I have said many times, I cannot overstate the importance of having immediate, quality, local health care available to the residents of the Quiet Corner in Northeastern Connecticut. With health care services being cut across the region, Day Kimball’s role is more vital than ever,” Sen. Flexer said. “That’s why we worked so hard to secure these critical budget dollars for Day Kimball. The alternative, quite frankly, is to see Northeastern Connecticut turn into a primary care desert, with people having to drive long distances for medical appointments, for emergency care and care for chronic conditions. I’m grateful that our state delegation, with support from our federal delegation, was able to work together with Governor Lamont to support our hospital.”
“Day Kimball Hospital is a critical resource and employer in our region. I am glad we were able to secure this state funding to maintain the hospital,” said Rep. Boyd.
“It’s important that Day Kimball receive this money and be able to continue to serve our area,” said Rep. Hayes.
“We’re always seeking ways to provide access to care, and improved outcomes for patients,” Sen. Gordon said. “This is especially important for families in our rural part of the state, where options may be more limited. I’m pleased that we can work collaboratively to deliver this funding to Day Kimball. Thank you to their talented staff for their hard work and commitment to deliver this care in our community.”
“Day Kimball Health’s Board and leadership team have been working tirelessly with our local, state, and federal delegation to secure financial support that will allow DKH to continue to provide the fullest array of services to those we are privileged to serve in our region,” said Kyle Kramer, Chief Executive Officer of Day Kimball Health. “We are so grateful for the tremendous support and engagement we have received from our elected officials through this process, especially state Senator Mae Flexer and her staff and state Representative Pat Boyd and his staff, both of whom pushed extremely hard for Day Kimball. In addition, thank you to state Representative Rick Hayes and his staff, along with state Senator Jeff Gordon and his staff, who both worked across the aisle and supported our efforts and request. We also thank Congressman Joe Courtney and U.S. Senators Chris Murphy and Richard Blumenthal and their teams for their commitment and support, as well as Governor Ned Lamont and his office, and Attorney General William Tong and his office for their support and engagement. These funds will be designated toward investments in clinical program advancements and the ongoing operational stabilization necessary to continue advancing the Day Kimball Health organization into the future.”
Day Kimball Healthcare is a non-profit, integrated medical services provider of 1,100 employees comprised of Day Kimball Hospital, Day Kimball Medical Group, four healthcare centers in Danielson, Dayville, Plainfield and Putnam, Day Kimball HomeMakers, Day Kimball HomeCare, and Hospice & Palliative Care of Northeastern Connecticut. Its service area includes Northeast Connecticut as well as nearby Massachusetts and Rhode Island communities.
The $51.1 billion biennial state budget passed the Senate today on a bipartisan vote of 35-1 after previously passing the House 139-12. The new state budget includes $612 million in personal income and pension tax cuts, $232 million more in state aid to local school districts, and hundreds of millions of dollars for nonprofits to pay their employees higher wages.
Freshman Senator Herron Keyon Gaston Leads and Passes Several Bills this 2023 Legislative Session
Freshman Senator Herron Keyon Gaston Leads and Passes Several Bills this 2023 Legislative Session
This legislative session, state Senator Herron Keyon Gaston (D-Bridgeport) took action to protect the Connecticut community and passed common sense legislation as a first-year Senator. Senator Gaston, was elected to serve the 23rd state Senate district, representing parts of Bridgeport and Stratford, in the November 2022 election and in a short period of time, has authored, introduced, and led passage of several bills as he chaired the Public Safety and Security Committee.
“The work accomplished this legislative session is a starting point as we continue to protect children, families, and communities across our state,” said Sen. Gaston. “My first legislative session taught me that there is much work to be done. I am so grateful for this opportunity to be a voice while exploring potential issues for so many and working to find a solution. I am proud of my colleagues and I for passing bills that will only further our progress as a state. I look forward to continuing to be an advocate for my constituents in Bridgeport and Stratford as well as residents who are hopeful for change all around Connecticut.”
This legislative session, Senator Gaston led Senate passage of a bill that requires police officers to inform drivers of the reason for a traffic stop and encourage additional police officer trainings on de-escalation, use of force, customer service, diversity, and bias. He also led passage on legislation that will require police officer training on strategies including crisis intervention. This bill will also develop recommendations on how police officers and social workers may collaborate.
Senator Gaston championed and led passage of two additional bills including one that will create new programs in our state to help reduce gun violence. It will require law enforcement units to hold community roundtables to discuss with community representatives gun violence prevention methods. The second bill establishing a new, four-year contract that provides annual pay raises for state troopers. The trooper trainee salaries will increase by 35% over several years. The general wage increase for troopers is 2.5% per year for three years, plus a one-time bonus of $3,500. The contract is an important step with trooper retainment.
Senator Gaston co-sponsored two important bills that passed this legislation with strong bi-partisan support. The first being An Act Concerning State Voting Rights In Recognition of John R. Lewis. This bill named in honor of the late Georgia Congressman and civil rights leader John Lewis, is designed to protect democracy in Connecticut and voting rights for all Connecticut citizens. As the late John Lewis’s former intern, Senator Gaston was proud to stand up in his honor to codify anti-discrimination protections for residents in our state when they cast their votes in elections.
The second bill he co-sponsored this session is legislation that raises the legal age to marry in the state to age 18. Senator Gaston is acquainted with such abuse having a family member who unfortunately had to endure a painful arranged marriage. Connecticut has a moral obligation in standing on the right side of this issue in alignment with surrounding states who have passed similar pieces of legislation.
Senator Gaston voted in support of several pieces of legislation including: an arbitrated award granting 35,500 state employees an average of $25 a week for the year they spent working closely with others at a time when there was no COVID-19 vaccine and the COVID-19 infection process was largely a mystery; expanding the eligibility for veterans’ specialty license plates and driver’s licenses to include former members of the National Guard and former reservists who do not qualify for federal veterans’ benefits; adding personal financial management and financial literacy to the high school graduation requirements; studying the impacts of a potential repeal of the state’s motor vehicle property tax; aims to protect libraries from the onslaught of book bans by conservatives that have been prevalent across the nation and providing positive health and wellness to CT children; increasing protections against domestic violence; combating gun violence; protecting voting rights in Connecticut; expanding the state’s debt-free community college program; creating more ease at the polls; and securing funding for the city of Bridgeport.
Senator Moore Secures Funding for Four Separate Housing Funds to Help Families in Connecticut
Senator Moore Secures Funding for Four Separate Housing Funds to Help Families in Connecticut
Today, state Senator Marilyn Moore (D-Bridgeport), Senate Chair of the Housing Committee and Chair of the Bonding Subcommittee, led Senate passage to secure $400 million in 2024 and another $400 million in 2025 for four separate housing funds to help families in Connecticut.
Senator Moore worked alongside Governor Lamont to secure this funding in the bonding package. This $800 million will address Connecticut’s need for affordable housing, support first-time home buyers with down payment assistance, promote homeownership for low-to-moderate income families, and improve living conditions at large apartments.
“Low-income families are feeling immense economic pressure as housing costs and rents continue to rise,” said Sen. Moore. “With this funding set to be placed on the agenda, I am hopeful we will be able to alleviate the lack of affordable housing and provide assistance to those looking to buy a new home. I am thankful to Governor Lamont for the dedication and time he took to prioritize housing and improving living conditions for residents in our state.”
“Building more housing is a priority for our administration, and these significantly increased investments will enable us to grow our housing supply while also providing a pathway to help first-time homeowners,” said Governor Lamont. “I thank Senator Moore and the legislature for partnering with our administration on these efforts.”
$200 million is being set aside for the flexible home fund. The Affordable Housing Program known as Flex is the Department of Housing’s (DOH) primary housing production program and is frequently referred to as the “flexible” housing program. It provides quality, affordable housing for Connecticut residents, promotes and supports homeownership and mixed income developments, and assists in the revitalization of urban and rural centers.
Addressing the state’s housing challenges has been at the focal point of this legislative session. According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC), our state has a sizeable shortage of affordable housing units and a large portion of residents’ income are going towards housing, making it difficult for them to afford other necessities. Funding the Flex program allows applicants the assistance they may need when owning a home.
$400 million is being allocated to the Housing Trust Fund. The Housing Trust Fund Program provides gap financing, grants, loan guarantees, low-and no-interest loans, and funding for the Connecticut Individual Development Account housing program. The program encourages the creation of homeownership housing for low-and moderate-income families, promotes the rehabilitation, preservation and production of rental housing and the development of housing which aids the revitalization of communities.
$150 million will be given toward the Time To Own – Forgivable Down Payment Assistance Program. This program helps to alleviate potential homebuyers’ inability to cover the down payment and closing cots required to purchase their first home. This program, launched in June of 2022, allows families a greater choice when searching for a home that will give their family the potential to thrive in their community.
And $50 million will be given toward receivership fund. Connecticut’s Housing Receivership Fund aims to improve housing conditions at large apartments in the state.
Senator Moore Secures Funding To Help Bridgeport Residents Affected By Flooding
Senator Moore Secures Funding To Help Bridgeport Residents Affected By Flooding
Today, state Senator Marilyn Moore (D-Bridgeport), Senate Chair of the Housing Committee and Chair of the Bonding Subcommittee, led passage in the senate to secure $125 million for retrofitting multifamily homes and $42 million to help rebuild a community in Bridgeport that was damaged several times after Rooster River and Ox Brook flooded. The numerous flooding cultivated its own flood control project to help with habitat protection and restoration.
“We cannot let this community suffer through this nightmare again,” said Sen. Moore. “This necessary funding will help put an end to the flooding issue created time and time again by the Rooster River. Families shouldn’t have to worry every time it rains. I am also proud to secure funds that will cultivate a better living experience for families in communities that need upgrades so desperately. Retrofitting multi-family homes will give folks a sense of safety and a healthy environment to live in.”
Senator Moore secured $17 million for 2024 and an additional $25 million in 2025. These funds will help to alleviate stress several families feel from the flooding from Rooster River and Ox Brook, that runs along the border between Fairfield and Bridgeport, that damaged several homes in Bridgeport.
In 2018, the Rooster River overflowed in a storm and damaged several homes in the area. Three years later, the remnants of Hurricane Ida caused flooding along Rooster River again bringing yet another nightmare for residents to deal with. Since 2018 drain scuppers have been installed to allow flood water to drain back into the water but it didn’t solve the flooding problem fully. Since the flooding, communities have worked on a number of projects to deter future flooding. In 2020, a complete flooding mitigation assessment was done. This funding for 2024 and 2025 will continue efforts to mitigate flooding.
Senator Moore also secured $50 million for 2024 and an additional $75 million in 2025 to retrofit multifamily homes in environmental justice communities, certain communities of color, and communities that have been disproportionally impacted by climate change. Helping to revitalize these homes with improve the public health and wellness of vulnerable communities, economically revitalize historically overlooked areas, and enhance energy equity producing increased safety.
SEN. MOORE LEADS PASSAGE OF BILL TO INCREASE CT’S AFFORDABLE HOUSING STOCK AND PROTECT RENTERS
SEN. MOORE LEADS PASSAGE OF BILL TO INCREASE CT’S AFFORDABLE HOUSING STOCK AND PROTECT RENTERS
HARTFORD – State Senator Marilyn Moore (D-Bridgeport) today led passage of a bill designed to expand the rights of Connecticut renters and to finally determine the number of affordable housing units needed in each Connecticut city and town and then “fairly share” this affordable housing need across every town, instead of concentrating affordable housing in Connecticut’s cities.
The bill seeks to finally address Connecticut’s historic lack of affordable housing for our growing population, the concentration of that affordable housing in large cities instead of small- and mid-sized towns, and the demands of businesses and corporations who want more affordable housing options for their employees.
“This is a comprehensive bill, but we still have a way to go. This bill will give us a pathway forward and allow us to come back in a few years and build on it,” said Sen. Moore, who is Senate Chair of the Housing Committee. “I’m proud of the collaborative work of our committee, especially that of my co-chair, state Representative Geoff Luxenberg.”
Senate Bill 998 passed the state Senate today on an 23-13 vote after passing the House of Representatives last week. The bill now heads to Governor Ned Lamont for his signature into law.
Most importantly, S.B. 998 requires the state Office of Policy and Management, by December 1, 2024, to create a way of measuring the minimum affordable housing needs in each of Connecticut’s nine planning regions: Northwest Hills, Western, Metropolitan, Naugatuck Valley, Capitol Region, South Central, Lower Connecticut River Valley, Northeastern, and Southeastern.
Under the bill, each city and town’s affordable housing need will be determined by using the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy.
With a few caveats, the particular number of affordable housing units needed in each city and town will then be assigned to them – in effect, assigning every municipality its “fair share” of the overall affordable housing need for Connecticut residents.
Connecticut cities have long held sole responsibility for offer most of the affordable housing available I the state. For example, according to CTData, 21.22% of the housing in Bridgeport is considered affordable, but only 0.11% in Bridgewater is considered affordable. 33.37% of the housing in New Haven is considered affordable, but only 2.43% in New Hartford is considered affordable. 19.38% of the housing in Norwich is considered affordable, but only 1.08% in North Stonington is considered affordable.
During his February 8 budget address, Gov. Lamont noted the need for more affordable housing in Connecticut, stating “We are still desperately short of housing. Millions of dollars for workforce training will go to naught if we don’t have enough housing where workers can afford to live. Having just climbed out of a fiscal crisis, I don’t want to fall into a housing crisis.”
S.B. 998 also enacts new and comprehensive protections for the 31 percent of Connecticut residents who live in rental housing. The new protections include: Increases fines to $2,000 per day for landlords who violate safe and sanitary housing rules; Limits rental application fees; Limits the late charges that landlords can charge for overdue rent; Requires landlords to give tenants the opportunity for a pre-occupancy “walk-through”; Expands housing discrimination based on sexual orientation; Shortens the deadline for a landlord to return a tenant’s security deposit
The bill also requires the state Department of Veterans Affairs to convert vacant or underused available housing for homeless veterans, and for the state Department of Housing to create a pilot program to provide temporary housing for veterans and others who are temporarily homeless and who need of short-term care.
DANBURY’S DEMOCRATIC DELEGATION ANNOUNCES FINANCIAL FIX FOR CITY’S CAREER ACADEMY MISTAKE
DANBURY’S DEMOCRATIC DELEGATION ANNOUNCES FINANCIAL FIX FOR CITY’S CAREER ACADEMY MISTAKE
DANBURY – Danbury’s Democratic legislative delegation of state Senator Julie Kushner and state Representatives Robert Godfrey, Raghib Allie-Brennan and Farley Santos announced today that they have secured a legislative fix to cover a costly and previously unknown property negotiation error by the city in which it paid more for the Career Academy High School property than its assessed value.
This is an important distinction because under state law, Connecticut will only pay up to 80% of school construction costs – including property acquisition – as long as the property is purchased at a fair market assessment price; overpayments for land acquisition are not reimbursable state expenses.
The Democrats’ legislative fix delivers $10 million more in state reimbursements to help build the much-anticipated new school, rather than holding Danbury taxpayers responsible for the entire difference in funding.
Last year, Mayor Dean Esposito publicly announced that he would pay $57 million to purchase the Cartus building at 40 Apple Ridge Road to build the Career Academy, but two subsequent property assessments put the property value at only $36 million. The lower assessments were received by the city in April 2022 but were never shared with voters who overwhelmingly approved the Career Academy project at referendum in June 2022 – including the $57 million purchase price.
So, Sen. Kushner and Reps. Godfrey, Allie-Brennan and Santos successfully lobbied state officials to include so-called “notwithstanding” language in section 136 of the annual state Office of School Construction priority school construction bill (House Bill 6942) that was passed today in the House and Senate in order to ensure that Danbury taxpayers will receive another $10 million in state aid for the school construction.
“We did this because we care about Danbury, and we care about the Career Academy and what a game-changer this school will be in providing students and their parents to choose the academy that provides the greatest opportunity for each student to thrive,” Sen. Kushner said regarding her legislative advocacy. “I’ve been fighting for the Career Academy since day one, because I believe it will become a model for all of Connecticut and will set Danbury students on a path to a successful future. Getting this school built as quickly and as responsibly as possible is a top priority of mine.”
“The Career Academy is important for Danbury, and it’s important for 1400 students to get a top-notch education. We can’t risk any more delays in its construction or opening,” Rep. Santos said. “I’m proud to have worked with Danbury’s Democratic legislative delegation to ensure that we could financially cover the mistakes of the city and move forward with this project for the kids and their parents.”
“For over a generation, Danbury’s government has underfunded public education, including this year. Of the 169 towns in Connecticut, Danbury is DEAD LAST for local support of public schools. Year after year, the legislature has provided more and more funds for public schools. Where did that money go?” said Rep. Godfrey. “We have also been extraordinarily generous for school construction, getting up to an 80% state reimbursement, compared to the usual 50%. That has been true for the Academy in two different locations. But the city was bamboozled into paying $22 million over appraised value for the Academy property and failed to tell voters before the referendum. We’re coming to the rescue for taxpayers, and for the students and teachers of Danbury who continue to experience extreme overcrowding.”
“The city was in a box. It’s hard to negotiate for the assessed value when you’ve already announced $57 million is a good deal,” Sen. Kushner added. “We intend to continue working on this issue next year to ensure we’re getting the best deal for Danbury.”
“From my first day in the state house, I have been focused on bringing resources home to Danbury to relieve overcrowding in our schools,” said Rep. Allie-Brennan. “I’m thrilled to have worked with Education Committee Chair Representative Jeff Currey and our delegation to help secure additional funding for the Danbury Career Academy. Our children are worth this additional investment.”
“The $10 million secured for school construction costs is a vote of confidence in the students of Danbury Public Schools, who need a swift remedy to districtwide overcrowding and inertia of inaction by previous elected officials,” said state Rep. Jeff Currey, who is House Chair of the Education Committee. “Inevitably, Danbury is going to get the new school that it deserves despite decades of underinvesting in public education.”
SEN. COHEN APPROVES BIPARTISAN, DEMOCRATIC-LED STATE BUDGET PASSES WITH HISTORIC TAX CUTS
SEN. COHEN APPROVES BIPARTISAN, DEMOCRATIC-LED STATE BUDGET PASSES WITH HISTORIC TAX CUTS
HARTFORD, CT – State Senator Christine Cohen (D-Guilford) today joined in the bipartisan Senate passage of a two-year state budget that includes a historic middle-class personal income tax cut while simultaneously providing towns more money for local schools as well as funding much-needed state social service programs.
The $51.1 billion biennial state budget for July 2023-June 2025 passed the Senate today on a bipartisan vote of 35-1. The new state budget includes a total of $612 million in personal income and pension tax cuts while providing $300 million more in state aid to local school districts and hundreds of millions more for nonprofits to pay their employees higher wages.
“This budget is the product of months long negotiations and contains big wins for our district and our state. We are prioritizing our children by fully funding the ECS formula and expanding free school meals,” said Sen. Cohen. “We are providing historic tax cuts and exemptions and we did it all with a balanced budget that maintains our fiscal safeguards and continues to pay down our debts. There are some proposals I will continue to work for, like restoring the pass-through entity tax, increasing transportation options and municipal aid for costly PFAS testing and remediation – but I’m certainly proud of this bipartisan budget.”
Branford will receive an additional $1.3 million in state Education Cost Sharing (ECS) grants over the next two years compared to what they are receiving now, and over $2 million in other state aid such as Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT), Local Capital Improvements (LOCIP), and Town Aid Roads (TAR).
Durham will receive an additional $110,827 in state Education Cost Sharing (ECS) grants over the next two years compared to what they are receiving now, and another $822,250 in other state aid such as Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT), Local Capital Improvements (LOCIP), and Town Aid Roads (TAR).
East Haven will receive an additional $25,306 in state Education Cost Sharing (ECS) grants over the next two years compared to what they are receiving now, and over $2.2 million in other state aid such as Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT), Local Capital Improvements (LOCIP), and Town Aid Roads (TAR).
Guilford will continue to receive over $3.5 million in state Education Cost Sharing (ECS) grants over the next two years and will receive over $1.3 million in other state aid such as Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT), Local Capital Improvements (LOCIP), and Town Aid Roads (TAR).
Killingworth will receive an additional $220,487 in state Education Cost Sharing (ECS) grants over the next two years compared to what they are receiving now, and another $713,118 in other state aid such as Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT), Local Capital Improvements (LOCIP), and Town Aid Roads (TAR).
Madison will continue to receive nearly $791,000 in state Education Cost Sharing (ECS) grants over the next two years and over $5.6 million in other state aid such as Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT), Local Capital Improvements (LOCIP), and Town Aid Roads (TAR).
Middlefield will receive an additional $230,601 in state Education Cost Sharing (ECS) grants over the next two years compared to what they are receiving now, and over $960,000 in other state aid such as Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT), Local Capital Improvements (LOCIP), and Town Aid Roads (TAR).
North Branford will continue to receive $14.6 million in state Education Cost Sharing (ECS) grants over the next two years compared to what they are receiving now, and another $1.3 million in other state aid such as Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT), Local Capital Improvements (LOCIP), and Town Aid Roads (TAR). Additionally, North Branford will receive $500,000 for the North Branford Family Resource Center.
SENATE GIVES FINAL APPROVAL TO BIPARTISAN BUDGET, WEST HARTFORD TO BENEFIT
SENATE GIVES FINAL APPROVAL TO BIPARTISAN BUDGET, WEST HARTFORD TO BENEFIT
HARTFORD – State Senator Derek Slap (D-West Hartford) today joined in the Senate passage of a two-year state budget that includes a historic middle-class personal income tax cut and significant increased support for West Hartford.
The biennial state budget passed the Senate today on a bipartisan vote of 35-1. The new state budget includes a total of $612 million in personal income and pension tax cuts for Connecticut taxpayers.
“The new state budget offers residents the largest tax cut in state history,” said Sen. Slap. “At the same time, we are investing in our communities, and I’m especially pleased West Hartford and its residents will benefit.”
West Hartford will receive $3.338 million in additional educational support in the next two years. The town will additionally receive about $1.4 million in state aid in those years.
New funding coming to West Hartford includes: West Hartford Pride will receive $80,000 – $40,000 in each of the 2023 and 2024 fiscal years – to improve community outreach and establish a LGBTQ+ Resource Center; The West Hartford Senior Jobs Bank will receive $10,000 in each of the 2023 and 2024 fiscal years.
“Of course, no budget is perfect, and I am disappointed the budget does not include additional funding for our non-profits, higher education and access to health care for children,” said Sen. Slap. “I will continue to advocate for these initiatives in the budget adjustments next spring.”
Details on tax cuts for residents earning up to $100,000 include:The current 3% income tax rate on the first $10,000 earned by single filers and the $20,000 earned by couples will drop to 2%; The 5% income tax rate imposed on the next $40,000 earned by singles and $80,000 earned by couples will drop to 4.5%; The income tax cuts are expected to save middle-class households $300 to $500 per year.
Further tax changes include:Expanding the income tax credit for Connecticut’s working poor from 30.5% of the federal Earned Income Tax Credit to 40%, helping approximately 200,000 Connecticut households; It further expands the income tax exemption for some pension and annuity earnings, expanding it to single filers making $75,000 – $100,000 and couples making $100,000 -$150,000; Smoothing of the so-called “tax cliff” for retirement income.
Senator Lopes, New Britain Delegation Highlight Funding for New Britain in State Budget
Senator Lopes, New Britain Delegation Highlight Funding for New Britain in State Budget
HARTFORD – Today, members of the New Britain legislative delegation – Senator Rick Lopes, Rep. Manny Sanchez, Rep. Peter Tercyak, Rep. Bobby Sanchez, and Rep. Gary Turco welcomed Senate passage of a two-year state budget that includes a historic middle-class personal income tax cut while simultaneously providing towns more money for local schools as well as funding much-needed state social service programs.
The $51.1 billion biennial state budget passed the Senate today on a bipartisan vote of 35-1. The new state budget includes a total of $612 million in personal income and pension tax cuts while providing $300 million more in state aid to local school districts and hundreds of millions more for nonprofits to pay their employees higher wages.
In the new state budget, New Britain will receive over a $15.5 million increase in state Education Cost Sharing (ECS) grants over the next two years, and over $21.5 million in additional state funding over two years.
“This biennial state budget sets forth a precedent as it targets our education and municipal aide in New Britain,” said Sen. Lopes. “For New Britain we are consistently advocating for more education funding to ensure a future for our youth and more municipal aide to keep down local taxes.”
“We passed a bipartisan budget with historic investments in local and special education funding, in addition to prioritizing higher education,” said Rep. Gary Turco (D-Newington, New Britain). “This is a winning formula for the present and future of learning in New Britain whether it is the city’s public schools or Central Connecticut State University.”
“The New Britain delegation brought the resources home even under the fiscal guardrails in place,” said Rep. Robert Sanchez. “I am proud of our work and a delegation that works together to keep New Britain on the radar and well represented in the state budget.”
“The New Britain delegation worked hard to deliver funding for the city in this budget,” said Rep. Manny Sanchez. “We expanded funding for our schools, including special education all within a budget that allows us to hold the line on local property taxes.”
“It’s very heartening to see our budget pass on such a strong, bipartisan basis,” said Rep. Tercyak. “The far-reaching agreement between both parties is a positive sign for the citizens of Connecticut.”
The budget passed today includes the first personal income tax cut in Connecticut in nearly 30 years, and it’s focused on Connecticut’s broad middle class – those earning up to $80,000 a year – although all taxpayers will benefit to some extent.
The current 3% income tax rate on the first $10,000 earned by single filers and the $20,000 earned by couples will drop to 2%, and the 5% income tax rate imposed on the next $40,000 earned by singles and $100,000 earned by couples will drop to 4.5%. The income tax cuts are expected to save moderate income households $300 to $500 per year.
The new budget also expands the income tax credit for Connecticut’s working poor from 30.5% of the federal Earned Income Tax Credit to 40%, helping approximately 200,000 Connecticut households.
The new budget also expands the income tax exemption for some pension and annuity earnings, expanding it to single filers making $75,000 – $100,000 and couples making $100,000 -$150,000.
On the spending side, local school districts are the winners, with many towns getting more state aid and no city or town seeing a reduction. The new budget provides over $232 million more in Education Cost Sharing (ECS) grants for Connecticut cities and towns, thereby providing property tax assistance. There’s also $16 million to continue expanded free school meals for children.
Private provider organizations that contract for state-sponsored social services (like aging, disability, corrections, housing, mental health and addiction, early childhood, etc.) will receive $87 million more in each year of the budget, providing 4% and 5.4% cost of living wage increases for their employees.
Other budget highlights include: $3 million to expand HUSKY health care for children up to age 15, regardless of their immigration status; $6 million to expand GPS monitoring of domestic violence offenders across the state; $5.4 million to implement early voting initiatives; Support for public higher education at levels far above those originally proposed
Sen. Cabrera Gives Final Approval to Bipartisan, Democratic-Led State Budget with Historic Tax Cuts
Sen. Cabrera Gives Final Approval to Bipartisan, Democratic-Led State Budget with Historic Tax Cuts
More Aid for Local Schools and Nonprofits Rounds Out Bipartisan Two-Year State Spending and Revenue Plan
HARTFORD – State Senator Jorge Cabrera (D-Hamden) today joined in the bipartisan Senate passage of a two-year state budget that includes a historic middle-class personal income tax cut while simultaneously providing towns more money for local schools as well as funding much-needed state social service programs.
The $51.1 billion biennial state budget for July 2023-June 2025 passed the Senate on a bipartisan vote of 35-1. The new state budget includes a total of $612 million in personal income and pension tax cuts while providing $300 million more in state aid to local school districts and hundreds of millions more for nonprofits to pay their employees higher wages.
“Today we continued to provide relief to our state’s middle class and while also increasing aid to towns, cities and our schools and I am pleased to give this two-year budget my approval,” said Sen. Cabrera. “When I went door knocking last year, I heard my constituents loud and clear that more was needed to help them navigate inflation and other high costs. I strongly believe this budget, which includes historic tax cuts, offers a noticeable measure of relief for Connecticut’s middle class.”
The budget passed today includes the first personal income tax cut in Connecticut in nearly 30 years, and it’s focused on Connecticut’s broad middle class – those earning up to $80,000 a year – although all taxpayers will benefit to some extent.
The current 3% income tax rate on the first $10,000 earned by single filers and the $20,000 earned by couples will drop to 2%, and the 5% income tax rate imposed on the next $40,000 earned by singles and $80,000 earned by couples will drop to 4.5%. The income tax cuts are expected to save middle-class households $300 to $500 per year.
The new budget expands the income tax exemption for some pension and annuity earnings, expanding it to single filers making $75,000 – $100,000 and couples making $100,000 -$150,000. And the budget also expands the income tax credit for Connecticut’s working poor from 30.5% of the federal Earned Income Tax Credit to 40%, helping approximately 200,000 Connecticut households.
On the spending side, local school districts are the winners, with many towns getting more state aid and no city or town being cut. The new budget provides $300 million more in Education Cost Sharing (ECS) grants for Connecticut cities and towns, thereby helping to keep local property tax rates low. There’s also $16 million to continue expanded free school meals for children.
Private provider organizations that contract for state-sponsored social services (like aging, disability, corrections, housing, mental health and addiction, early childhood, etc.) will receive $87 million more in each year of the budget, providing 4% and 5.4% cost of living wage increases for their employees.
Other budget highlights include: Restores 100% of service on the New Haven train line and branch lines next year; $3 million to expand HUSKY health care for children up to age 15; $6 million to expand GPS monitoring of domestic violence offenders across the state; $5.4 million to implement early voting initiatives