Senator Anwar Receives Homelessness Social Justice Award from CT Coalition to End Homelessness
Today, at the 19th Annual Training Institute for the Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness, State Senator Saud Anwar (D-South Windsor) received the organization’s Homelessness Social Justice Award, awarded to individuals who embrace or champion new practices while developing solutions to complex social issues. Sen. Anwar received this award for his passion to end homelessness and leadership in raising awareness about the need to establish a right to housing in Connecticut.
“I am grateful to receive this award, but I know the hard work is still ahead of us,” said Sen. Anwar. “Homelessness is a societal issue, and thousands in Connecticut still struggle with it – and many thousands more are dealing with unstable housing. This is not only cruel and challenging for them, but a symptom of a larger societal problem; studies around our country show that providing housing for individuals is less expensive than the burdens our systems take on in dealing with them. With housing costs continuing to steeply rise, we must refocus on solutions that aid not just those in need, but our entire communities.”
Most prominently, Sen. Anwar has introduced legislation to the General Assembly establishing the “Right to Housing,” implementing a state goal to develop policies respecting, protecting and fulfilling a right to housing for every resident in the state that is affordable, safe and stable. The legislation, which has been introduced several times and advanced past the Senate in 2021, seeks to provide considerations for vulnerable populations in affordable housing policies, establishes a committee to review housing policies and would create a housing advocate to aid individuals. As Vice Chair of the Housing Committee, he has additionally played a leadership role in the development of numerous housing bills aimed at improving housing access and availability in Connecticut.
In addition to his work in the legislature, Sen. Anwar has worked with local organizations like Hartford Bags of Love, a South Windsor-based charity created in 2016 by then-9-year-old Tiernan Cabot, who is now 14. Annually, Sen. Anwar participates in the early-November Sleep Out in Nevers Park, where individuals sleep in the park to promote awareness of homelessness and build empathy for those impacted.
Farmington Delegation Celebrates Town Receiving Increased Funding for High School Project in 2022-23 Budget
Farmington Delegation Celebrates Town Receiving Increased Funding for High School Project in 2022-23 Budget
The Farmington delegation of lawmakers, including State Senator Derek Slap (D-West Hartford), State Senator Rick Lopes (D-New Britain), State Representative Mike Demicco (D-Farmington) and State Representative Tammy Exum (D-West Hartford), are cheering the restoration of full state funding support for renovation work being performed at Farmington High School.
In March, Sen. Slap and Rep. Demicco testified to the Education Committee seeking to ensure the reimbursement rate initially promised to the town, then reduced in December 2021, was restored to its original rate. The text of the 2022-23 state budget implementer lists Farmington as receiving a 30% reimbursement rate for the work, ensuring the town does not face a financial deficit.
“Our delegation was vocal during the legislative session to ensure our town and our constituents were not financially harmed by a last-minute reduction in funding,” said Sen. Slap. “I’m happy to see our voices were heard and the state has made Farmington whole, avoiding financial issues at the municipal level and ensuring this project moves forward without issue.”
“A new high school is a big financial undertaking, but an important project for the future of Farmington. This is why we, as your state elected officials, worked diligently to ensure the state helped pay its fair share of the costs,” said Sen. Lopes. “This ensures students will have a safe and state of the art facility, and local taxpayers will not have to carry the entire construction cost.”
“This substantial increase in Farmington’s reimbursement rate for the high school construction project (from 19% to 30%) is great news for our taxpayers, teachers, parents, and students. This achievement is a testament to the experienced, effective leadership of Farmington’s legislative delegation, and our solid working relationship with legislative leaders,” said Rep. Demicco. “Investing in the education of our youth is always good public policy. I look forward to the groundbreaking ceremony in the fall!”
“I’d like to thank my fellow members of the Farmington delegation for sounding the alarm and righting a potential wrong,” Rep. Exum said. “The taxpayers were promised an initial tax reimbursement rate and reducing it was wrong and would have been an unanticipated financial burden. This increased reimbursement rate is wonderful news for the Farmington community, and I am excited for the students of Farmington High, who will soon have a state of the art facility, of which they are so deserving.”
“The Town of Farmington is thrilled that our legislative delegation was able to increase our reimbursement rate,” said Farmington Town Manager Kathy Blonski. “This is the largest project in the Town’s history and this increase will benefit the Farmington taxpayers. On behalf of the Town of Farmington, I thank our legislators for all their hard work to make this happen.”
In late 2021, Farmington leaders were told the state’s initially agreed-upon reimbursement rate for work renovating the “900 wing” of Farmington High School would be reduced after the project was approved at referendum. Under the project, the town is building a new high school and renovating the existing school to upgrade athletic facilities and its central administration office. Overall, other than the work for the “900 wing,” the project had a reimbursement rate of 18.93%.
Section 389 of House Bill 5506, “An Act Adjusting The State Budget For The Biennium Ending June 30, 2023, Concerning Provisions Related To Revenue, School Construction and Other Items To Implement The State Budget And Authorizing And Adjusting Bonds Of The State” – put more simply, the legislation enacting the state’s 2022-23 fiscal year budget – reads, “the town of Farmington may use the reimbursement rate of 30% for the new construction project at Farmington High School,” with similar language also reflecting a similar reimbursement rate for construction of outdoor athletic facilities and the central administration facility project.
Sen. Mccrory Votes for State Budget with Half a Billion Dollars in Tax Cuts, Investments in Child Care, Mental Health, Social Services and More
Sen. Mccrory Votes for State Budget with Half a Billion Dollars in Tax Cuts, Investments in Child Care, Mental Health, Social Services and More
State Senator Doug McCrory (D-Hartford, Bloomfield and Windsor) supported final passage of a modified second year of the two-year state budget that will bring Connecticut’s 3.5 million residents a half-billion dollars in tax savings while investing hundreds of millions of other dollars in new childcare, mental health, social service, job creation and other new state programs.
“When the 2022 legislative session began, I made a promise to the people that I serve to focus on issues affecting their pocketbooks. I’m proud to have kept that promise by voting for a state budget that delivers tax cuts and conducts significant investments that will make a difference in our communities,” said Sen. McCrory. “One of the most transformative investments, we can make as a state is in our young people. This budget will strengthen the vital infrastructure – including child care, schools, and mental health support services – needed to support a young person’s healthy development and well-being.”
With an influx of federal aid, and with Connecticut tax revenues soaring due to a rebounding state economy, strong job growth and rising incomes, the second year of the biennial state budget was reconfigured to increase state spending in the coming year by 6.5% to $24.2 billion.
The budget includes historic tax cuts for Connecticut’s citizens as well as major new investments in some of the human needs that were highlighted by the past two years of the deadly and disruptive COVID-19 pandemic.
The budget is still under the state-mandated spending cap, has maxed out our state Rainy Day Fund at $3.3 billion, and makes a massive, unprecedented $3.5 billion payment toward Connecticut’s 70 years of built-up pension debt.
The 2nd Senate District consisting of Hartford, Bloomfield, and Windsor will receive in fiscal year 2023 an increase of almost $1.5 million in ECS funding.
Sen. McCrory, Senate Chair of the Education Committee and a life-long educator, is proud of the numerous investments in organizations supporting residents of the 2nd Senate District. Over $5.5 million through the budget will be distributed among organizations including:
- Blue Hills Civic Association; Upper Albany Neighborhood Collaborative; the Brother Carl Hardrick Institute for Violence Prevention; Bloomfield Social and Youth Services; Windsor Junior Warriors; Bloomfield Raiders Youth Football; Boys & Girls Clubs of Hartford; Hartford Communities that Care; Minority Construction Council, Inc; IMHOTEP CT National Medical Association Society; MPact Mentoring, Inc; Hartford Economic Development Corporation; Hartford YMCA; Greater Hartford YMCA; Legacy Foundation of Hartford; Hartford Friendship Camp; Good Works, Inc; C.U.R.E.T. Center for Urban Research, Education & Training; Hartford Knights; and Girls for Technology
Some of the $600 million in tax cuts that will help Connecticut residents include:
- Creates a new $250-per-child credit against the state income tax for low- and middle-income households, up to a maximum of $750, for single filers with earnings less than $100,000 per year and couples making less than $200,000. This saves Connecticut families $125 million
- A cap on the tax rate charged by cities and towns on motor vehicles will reduce car taxes by $100 million for residents in about 45% of Connecticut municipalities, including Hartford, Bloomfield and Windsor
- Increase the maximum property tax credit exemption from $200 to $300, saving Connecticut families $60 million per year this year and into the future
- Increasing the state Earned Income Tax Credit, a program created by former President Ronald Reagan and used by 186,000 Connecticut residents living in every town in the state. The increased tax deduction will save Connecticut families $49 million a year
- Accelerating the phase-out of taxes of certain pension and annuity income, saving Connecticut residents nearly $43 million
- The budget even eliminates the tax on movie theatre tickets, saving movie-goers $2.5 million this year
On the spending side, the budget makes major investments in the public services Connecticut residents demanded following two years of the deadly and disruptive COVID-19 pandemic: the mental health crisis impacting our children, expanded services for people with substance-use disorders, better wages for people working in our non-profits and as personal care attendants, increased funds to support survivors of domestic violence, more money for community college tuition, job-training programs, and a historic investment in child care services so parents can get back into the workplace.
Some of the hundreds of millions of new dollars that being spent on Connecticut residents include:
- $10 million for mental health services at School-Based Health Centers
- $30 million for increased 24/7 mobile crisis services
- $72 million for private-sector non-profit pay raises
- $23 million for personal care attendants
- $75 million to update school air conditioning and heating systems
- $70 million for childcare industry wage enhancements
- $15 million to renovate and construct early childhood facilities
- $1 million for minority teacher scholarships
- $2.5 million to combat gun violence
- $2.8 million for survivors of domestic violence
- $50 million for affordable housing
- $8 million to increase access to town-run summer camps
- $3 million for senior citizens’ adult day programs and Meals on Meals
- $4 million for Alzheimer’s respite care programs
To view more details and analysis of the budget, please visit: https://cga.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&which_year=2022&bill_num=5506
Farmington Delegation Celebrates Town Receiving Increased Funding for High School Project in 2022-23 Budget
Farmington Delegation Celebrates Town Receiving Increased Funding for High School Project in 2022-23 Budget
The Farmington delegation of lawmakers, including State Senator Derek Slap (D-West Hartford), State Senator Rick Lopes (D-New Britain), State Representative Mike Demicco (D-Farmington) and State Representative Tammy Exum (D-West Hartford), are cheering the restoration of full state funding support for renovation work being performed at Farmington High School.
In March, Sen. Slap and Rep. Demicco testified to the Education Committee seeking to ensure the reimbursement rate initially promised to the town, then reduced in December 2021, was restored to its original rate. The text of the 2022-23 state budget implementer lists Farmington as receiving a 30% reimbursement rate for the work, ensuring the town does not face a financial deficit.
“Our delegation was vocal during the legislative session to ensure our town and our constituents were not financially harmed by a last-minute reduction in funding,” said Sen. Slap. “I’m happy to see our voices were heard and the state has made Farmington whole, avoiding financial issues at the municipal level and ensuring this project moves forward without issue.”
“A new high school is a big financial undertaking, but an important project for the future of Farmington. This is why we, as your state elected officials, worked diligently to ensure the state helped pay its fair share of the costs,” said Sen. Lopes. “This ensures students will have a safe and state of the art facility, and local taxpayers will not have to carry the entire construction cost.”
“This substantial increase in Farmington’s reimbursement rate for the high school construction project (from 19% to 30%) is great news for our taxpayers, teachers, parents, and students. This achievement is a testament to the experienced, effective leadership of Farmington’s legislative delegation, and our solid working relationship with legislative leaders,” said Rep. Demicco. “Investing in the education of our youth is always good public policy. I look forward to the groundbreaking ceremony in the fall!”
“I’d like to thank my fellow members of the Farmington delegation for sounding the alarm and righting a potential wrong,” Rep. Exum said. “The taxpayers were promised an initial tax reimbursement rate and reducing it was wrong and would have been an unanticipated financial burden. This increased reimbursement rate is wonderful news for the Farmington community, and I am excited for the students of Farmington High, who will soon have a state of the art facility, of which they are so deserving.”
“The Town of Farmington is thrilled that our legislative delegation was able to increase our reimbursement rate,” said Farmington Town Manager Kathy Blonski. “This is the largest project in the Town’s history and this increase will benefit the Farmington taxpayers. On behalf of the Town of Farmington, I thank our legislators for all their hard work to make this happen.”
In late 2021, Farmington leaders were told the state’s initially agreed-upon reimbursement rate for work renovating the “900 wing” of Farmington High School would be reduced after the project was approved at referendum. Under the project, the town is building a new high school and renovating the existing school to upgrade athletic facilities and its central administration office. Overall, other than the work for the “900 wing,” the project had a reimbursement rate of 18.93%.
Section 389 of House Bill 5506, “An Act Adjusting The State Budget For The Biennium Ending June 30, 2023, Concerning Provisions Related To Revenue, School Construction and Other Items To Implement The State Budget And Authorizing And Adjusting Bonds Of The State” – put more simply, the legislation enacting the state’s 2022-23 fiscal year budget – reads, “the town of Farmington may use the reimbursement rate of 30% for the new construction project at Farmington High School,” with similar language also reflecting a similar reimbursement rate for construction of outdoor athletic facilities and the central administration facility project.
Looney Fills Appointment to Connecticut Airport Authority
Looney Fills Appointment to Connecticut Airport Authority
Senate President Pro Tempore Martin M. Looney (D-New Haven) appointed Vincent Mauro, Jr. of New Haven to the Connecticut Airport Authority.
“Vin Mauro has a unique, nuanced, and highly informed perspective on all matters related to air transportation and economic development in our state,” said Senator Looney. “He will make a vital contribution to the deliberations and policy decisions of the Connecticut Airport Authority.”
The Connecticut Airport Authority was established as a quasi-public agency in 2011 to own, improve, and operate Bradley International Airport and the five state-owned general aviation airports (Danielson, Groton-New London, Hartford-Brainard, Waterbury-Oxford, and Windham).
Senator Looney’s appointment is pursuant to Connecticut General Statutes 15-120bb and is effective immediately. The appointment will expire June 30, 2024.
Westport Leaders Announce $11.7 Million for Route 1 Traffic and Safety Improvements
Westport Leaders Announce $11.7 Million for Route 1 Traffic and Safety Improvements
Today, Westport leaders including State Senator Will Haskell (D-Westport), State Representative Jonathan Steinberg (D-Westport) and Westport First Selectwoman Jennifer Tooker, along with Department of Transportation Senior Advisor Carlo Leone, Westport Police Deputy Chiefs Sam Arciola and Ryan Paulsson and Westport Public Works Director Peter Ratkiewich, joined together at Westport Plaza Shopping Center to announce the release of $11.7 million in funding that will provide safety and traffic improvements on Westport’s Route 1. This work will make traffic in the high-volume corridor safer and more efficient, aiding local businesses as well by making them more accessible.
Approved at the State Bond Commission’s March 30 meeting, the $11.7 million in funding will go toward traffic operational improvements on Route 1. Most prominently, the work will involved adding exclusive left turn lanes at three major intersections along Route 1, including at the Fresh Market/Village Center intersection, the intersection of Roseville and Hillspoint Roads and Bulkley Road North and South. A two-way left turn lane will also be added from the Fresh Market/Village Center driveways to Roseville and Hillspoint Roads, allowing vehicles to make left turns into commercial driveways.
The work will also align the offset intersection at Bulkley Avenue, North and South, for improved traffic operations, with new traffic signals, bus shelters, curbing, curb ranks, sidewalks and crosswalks proposed for installation in the area. Traffic signals will be optimized for current traffic conditions and the sidewalks and curb ramps will meet Americans with Disabilities Act criteria.
The project is expected to begin construction in Fall 2022 with anticipated completion Fall of 2025.
“On the average day, 24,000 cars travel Westport’s Post Road. It’s time we make this major roadway more safe and efficient for drivers, pedestrians and those who ride the bus,” said Sen. Haskell. “Anyone who travels on this road knows that bumper to bumper traffic is a daily occurrence, and accidents are all too common. Much of that traffic and many of those accidents can be avoided with a little bit of investment, including traffic signals that can sense how many cars are coming and are responsive to the flow of traffic. We also know pedestrians frequently cross the Post Road, which is why this project invests in critically important sidewalks and crosswalks. Finally, this road is home to one of Connecticut’s most-utilized bus services, the Coastal Link. Unfortunately, too often the folks waiting for these buses are left braving the rain or cold. I’m so grateful for all of the advocacy to make sure bus shelters were included in this project.”
“We are planning a project starting around Westport Plaza continuing down to Post Road to the intersection in front of Fresh Market,” said First Selectwoman Tooker. “Anything we can do to improve this corridor from a traffic and pedestrian safety standpoint is thrilling. It’s an excellent project for the town of Westport and we’re grateful to the state, the DOT and our state Senator and Representative for their hard work.”
“All politics is local, but all transportation projects are really local,” said Rep. Steinberg. “We see the big projects integrated statewide, but these projects are where it really makes a difference to people, as it affects safety and quality of life. I’ve been driving on Roseville Road since I got my driver’s license; I can tell you having a turn lane there will have a significant difference for people right here in Westport. It’s a project that’s practical, long-needed and why infrastructure investment is so important in every community, just like this one.”
“These are very critical improvements for the town of Westport,” said Leone. “The roadway is very busy and these intersections are very difficult to cross; the improvements from this signalization are going to be key to making those improvements for the safety of the people of Westport. It couldn’t have been done without the support of our Westport legislators.”
Senator Miller Joins Colleagues in Passing State Budget with Half A Billion Dollars in Tax Cuts, Investments in Child Care, Mental Health, Social Services, and More
Senator Miller Joins Colleagues in Passing State Budget with Half A Billion Dollars in Tax Cuts, Investments in Child Care, Mental Health, Social Services, and More
The Priority Legislation for Senate Democrats Bolsters Youth Mental Health Services,
Supports More Social Workers in School, and Helps Child Care Providers
State Senator Pat Billie Miller (D-Stamford) joined her Democratic colleagues in the state Senate and helped lead final passage of a modified second year of the two-year state budget that will bring Connecticut’s 3.5 million residents a half-billion dollars in tax savings while investing hundreds of millions of other dollars in new childcare, mental health, social service, job creation and other new state programs.
The budget was passed 24-12. The bill now heads to Democratic Governor Ned Lamont for his signature of the 2022-2023 state budget into law.
“This state budget is another step forward for Connecticut, investing funds in early childhood education, supporting our teacher workforce, making child care more affordable and addressing the mental health of our young people by providing access to much-needed resources,” said Sen. Miller. “This budget also continues the gas tax suspension through to Dec. 1, continues free public bus rides until Dec. 1, provides a child tax credit of $250 to low and middle income families, increases the property tax cut and includes municipal aid for Stamford and Darien. This is a budget that meets the moment with roughly $600 million in tax cuts while also paying down our pension debt, fully funding our rainy day fund and staying under our spending cap. I am proud to support this budget’s passage and excited for all the ways this will help the hard-working people of our state.”
With an influx of federal aid, and with Connecticut tax revenues soaring due to a rebounding state economy, strong job growth and rising incomes, the second year of the biennial state budget was reconfigured by Democrats and Gov. Lamont to increase state spending in the coming year by 6.5% to $24.2 billion.
The budget includes historic tax cuts for Connecticut’s citizens as well as major new investments in some of the necessities needed that were highlighted by the past two years of the deadly and disruptive COVID-19 pandemic.
The Democratic budget is still under the state-mandated spending cap, has maxed out our state Rainy Day Fund at $3.3 billion, and makes a massive, unprecedented $3.5 billion payment toward Connecticut’s 70 years of built-up pension debt. Some of the $600 million in Democratic tax cuts that will help Connecticut residents include:
- Continuation of the 25-cent per gallon gasoline tax holiday through December 1, thereby saving Connecticut residents another $150 million.
- Creates a new $250-per-child credit against the state income tax for low- and middle-income households, up to a maximum of $750, for single filers with earnings less than $100,000 per year and couples making less than $200,000. This saves Connecticut families $125 million.
- Increase the maximum property tax credit exemption from $200 to $300, saving Connecticut families $60 million per year this year and into the future.
- Increasing the state Earned Income Tax Credit, a program created by former President Ronald Reagan and used by 186,000 Connecticut residents living in every town in the state.
- The increased tax deduction will save Connecticut families $49 million a year.
- Accelerating the phase-out of taxes of certain pension and annuity income, saving Connecticut residents nearly $43 million.
- The Democratic budget even eliminates the tax on movie theatre tickets, saving movie-goers $2.5 million this year.
On the spending side, Democrats and Gov. Lamont make major investments in the public services Connecticut residents demanded following two years of the deadly and disruptive COVID-19 pandemic: the mental health crisis impacting our children, expanded services for people with substance-use disorders, better wages for people working in our non-profits and as personal care attendants, increased funds to support survivors of domestic violence, more money for community college tuition, job-training programs, and a historic investment in child care services so parents can get back into the workplace.
Some of the hundreds of millions of new dollars that Democrats are spending on Connecticut residents include:
- $10 million for mental health services at School-Based Health Centers
- $30 million for increased 24/7 mobile crisis services
- $72 million for private-sector non-profit pay raises
- $23 million for personal care attendants
- $70 million for childcare industry wage enhancements
- $15 million to renovate and construct early childhood facilities
- $2.5 million to combat gun violence
- $2.8 million for survivors of domestic violence
- $50 million for affordable housing
- $75 million to update school air conditioning and heating systems
- $8 million to increase access to town-run summer camps
- $3 million for senior citizens’ adult day programs and Meals on Meals
- $4 million for Alzheimer’s respite care programs
To view more details and analysis of the Democratic budget, please visit: https://cga.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&which_year=2022&bill_num=5506
Sen. Daugherty Abrams Highlights Increased State Funding for Cheshire School Construction and Other Vital Programs
Sen. Daugherty Abrams Highlights Increased State Funding
for Cheshire School Construction and Other Vital Programs
New State Budget Increases Reimbursement from 36% to 50%
HARTFORD, CT – Today, state Senator Mary Daugherty Abrams (D-Meriden, Middlefield, Rockfall, Middletown, Cheshire) highlighted increased state funding for Cheshire School Construction as well as increased funding for Veteran’s Memorial Park, a municipal parking lot and Ball and Sockets, an arts center housed in a historic Connecticut factory in Cheshire.
The new state budget, passed out of the state House of Representative and Senate during the legislative session, increases the funding percentage from 36%-to-50%. Meanwhile Ball and Socket is slated to receive $400,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding, Veterans Memorial Park will receive $150,000 and $200,000 will go towards plans for a municipal parking lot.
“Investing in our young people and educators has long since been a priority for me and I am glad we were successful in getting this done for Cheshire students and educators,” said Sen. Daugherty Abrams. “Also, increasing funds for the impressive and ambitious work happening at Ball and Socket, along with other exciting projects will benefit folks across Cheshire.”
The state budget awaits Governor Ned Lamont’s signature at a time and date to be announced.
Senator Moore Joins Colleagues in Passing State Budget, Secures Additional Funds for Bridgeport
Senator Moore Joins Colleagues in Passing State Budget, Secures Additional Funds for Bridgeport
Earlier this week, state Senator Marilyn Moore (D-Bridgeport) joined her Democratic colleagues in the state Senate to support a modified second year of the two-year state budget. The new budget will bring Connecticut’s 3.5 million residents a half-billion dollars in tax savings while investing hundreds of millions of other dollars in new childcare, mental health, social service, job creation and other new state programs.
The budget was passed 24-12. The bill now heads to Democratic Governor Ned Lamont for his signature of the 2022-2023 state budget into law.
On the last day of session, Senator Moore worked to pass Senate Bill 9, ‘An Act Implementing The Governor’s Budget Recommendations For General Government. In this, Sen. Moore secured an additional $2.2 million which was added into the budget during the final day of session. These additional funds include:
- Bridgeport Public Education Fund, Inc.
$100,000 - Colors of the World
$40,000 - Cook-and-Grow
$25,000 - Green Village Initiative (GVI)
$40,000 - Polished Pearls
$10,000 - RYASAP Bridgeport
$150,000 - Street Safe
$100,000 - Trumbull Nature & Arts Center
$75,000 - Cradle-To-Career Bridgeport
$150,000 - The Knowlton
$25,000 - Sisters At The Shore
$50,000 - Bridgeport Caribe Youth Leaders
$100,000 - Cape Verdean Women
$25,000 - Bridgeport Youth Lacrosse
$25,000 - McBride Foundation
$100,000 - Bridgeport Arts Council
$50,000 - Bernard Buddy Jordan Foundation
$50,000 - Full Circle Youth Engagement
$450,000 - Elevate Bridgeport
$200,000
“I want to thank Senator Osten for her hard work and dedication on putting together this state budget,” said Sen. Moore. “This is an opportunity to fix our community and take a look at how we are spending our money. I’m thrilled part of this funding is being focused on early childhood education. Poverty begins before a child is born and when that child leaves the womb, you want to provide that child with everything they need in order to be successful. I appreciate this vision for our children as we work to make a difference for our future.”
Within this budget, the Department of Public Health will establish a gun violence intervention and prevention program and report annually to the Public Health Committee. Senator Moore has been a strong advocate in putting an end to gun violence. Last year, Sen. Moore worked hard to implement a gun violence intervention and prevention committee that will help minimize youth gun violence. This committee will work to coordinate the funding and implementation of evidence-based, community-centric programs and strategies to reduce street-level gun violence in the state.
In Senator Moore’s district, Bridgeport will receive a $3.8 million increase in state funding from FY22 to FY 23. Bridgeport will also receive $188,956,317 in state education funding for Bridgeport Public Schools. As the budget also reduces the motor vehicle mill rate, Bridgeport will be reimbursed $7,069,461 during FY 23 to offset revenue losses. Bridgeport is also being allocated $129 million for construction of Bassick High School.
With an influx of federal aid, and with Connecticut tax revenues soaring due to a rebounding state economy, strong job growth and rising incomes, the second year of the biennial state budget was reconfigured by Democrats and Gov. Lamont to increase state spending in the coming year by 6.5% to $24.2 billion.
The budget includes historic tax cuts for Connecticut’s citizens as well as major new investments in some of the human needs that were highlighted by the past two years of the deadly and disruptive COVID-19 pandemic.
The Democratic budget is still under the state-mandated spending cap, has maxed out our state Rainy Day Fund at $3.3 billion, and makes a massive, unprecedented $3.5 billion payment toward Connecticut’s 70 years of built-up pension debt. Some of the $600 million in Democratic tax cuts that will help Connecticut residents include:
- Continuation of the 25-cent per gallon gasoline tax holiday through December 1, thereby saving Connecticut residents another $150 million.
- Creates a new $250-per-child credit against the state income tax for low- and middle-income households, up to a maximum of $750, for single filers with earnings less than $100,000 per year and couples making less than $200,000. This saves Connecticut families $125 million.
- A cap on the tax rate charged by cities and towns on motor vehicles will reduce car taxes by $100 million for residents in about 45% of Connecticut towns.
- Increase the maximum property tax credit exemption from $200 to $300, saving Connecticut families $60 million per year this year and into the future.
- Increasing the state Earned Income Tax Credit, a program created by former President Ronald Reagan and used by 186,000 Connecticut residents living in every town in the state. The increased tax deduction will save Connecticut families $49 million a year.
- Accelerating the phase-out of taxes of certain pension and annuity income, saving Connecticut residents nearly $43 million.
- The Democratic budget even eliminates the tax on movie theatre tickets, saving movie-goers $2.5 million this year.
On the spending side, Democrats and Gov. Lamont make major investments in the public services Connecticut residents demanded following two years of the deadly and disruptive COVID-19 pandemic: the mental health crisis impacting our children, expanded services for people with substance-use disorders, better wages for people working in our non-profits and as personal care attendants, increased funds to support survivors of domestic violence, more money for community college tuition, job-training programs, and a historic investment in child care services so parents can get back into the workplace.
Some of the hundreds of millions of new dollars that Democrats are spending on Connecticut residents include:
- $10 million for mental health services at School-Based Health Centers
- $30 million for increased 24/7 mobile crisis services
- $1.4 million for no-cost training to address the hiring needs of Electric Boat
- $72 million for private-sector non-profit pay raises
- $23 million for personal care attendants
- $70 million for childcare industry wage enhancements
- $15 million to renovate and construct early childhood facilities
- $2.5 million to combat gun violence
- $2.8 million for survivors of domestic violence
- $50 million for affordable housing
- $75 million to update school air conditioning and heating systems
- $8 million to increase access to town-run summer camps
- $3 million for senior citizens’ adult day programs and Meals on Meals
- $4 million for Alzheimer’s respite care programs
Sen. Osten Brings Budget Success to Eastern Connecticut
Sen. Osten Brings Budget Success to Eastern Connecticut
In addition to $600 million in tax breaks in the new state budget that she helped deliver to Connecticut residents statewide, state Senator Cathy Osten (D-Sprague) noted today that she has also delivered a host of other state funding and public policy successes to cities and towns in her 19th State Senate District and across the region.
Sen. Osten, who is Senate Chair of the budget-making Appropriations Committee, wrapped-up a months-long process of budget-making and budget negotiating this week when she helped lead the state Senate in passing a bipartisan state budget.
“A lot of the talk all year focuses on what the executive branch of government wants, and what the administration is proposing. But that’s just one branch of government, and legislators have a say on their own budget, and their own priorities, and that was my focus over the past several months as a member of the state legislature,” Sen. Osten said. “My priorities are and always will be eastern Connecticut: jobs for eastern Connecticut, economic development for eastern Connecticut, and funding for eastern Connecticut. That’s my focus.”
Sen. Osten’s budget and policy successes for the region include:
- $914,784 more in Education Cost Sharing (ECS) funds for Norwich
- $17,829 more in ECS funds for Sprague
- $500,000 for the Slater Museum in Norwich
- $500,000 for the Norwich Historical Society
- $4,000 for the American Legion Post 85 in Baltic
- The elimination of $2.88 million in payments from small towns toward to cost of unfunded State Trooper pension liabilities
- $1.3 million in LED lighting streetscape improvements for Sprague
- Requiring the State Library Board to consult with blind and physically disabled advocates before making any changes to library services for these clients
- Increasing from $50 to $60 the pay for Honor Guards at veteran funerals
- $500,000 for Veterans’ Rally Point in Norwich
- $1 million for the Coast Guard Academy Office of Military Affairs library, which houses original Alexander Hamilton documents
- Ending the gross receipts tax on the sale of natural gas for Norwich Public Utilities, thereby saving money for NPU customers
- $1.4 million for the Eastern Workforce Investment Board (EWIB) to facilitate the hiring of 3,500 new employees at Electric Boat
- $500,000 to study the removal of the dam at Papermill Pond in Versailles
- $500,000 for Montville Parks and Recreation Department tennis courts
- $300,000 for Artreach mental health and arts agency in Norwich
- $100,000 for the Taftville VFW Auxiliary
- $300,000 for Lebanon Pines treatment and recovery center
- $150,000 for the Preston City Volunteer Fire Department
- $150,000 for the Poquetanuck Volunteer Fire Department in Preston
- $300,000 for the Lebanon Historical Society