Sen. Kushner Votes for Balanced State Budget That Investments in People, Jobs and Communities
HARTFORD – State Senator Julie Kushner (D-Danbury) this evening joined with her Democratic Senate colleagues in passing a 2020-2021 state budget that supports working families, students and seniors while remaining fiscally responsible, paying pension obligations, and growing Connecticut’s Rainy Day Fund to an impressive $2.6 billion.
The Senate passed the budget on a 20-16 vote; it now heads to Governor Lamont for his signature.
The budget is balanced, includes no income or sales tax hikes, and keeps non-fixed state spending increases to a minuscule 0.3% in the first year of the budget.
“This budget balances a lot of competing needs, and it does so in a manner which is considerate of working families and their priorities: good jobs, good wages, and good educational opportunities,” Sen. Kushner said. “I’m also pleased with the action we are taking on single-use plastic bags. Connecticut is behind the curve in addressing this issue, and we need to find ways to better protect our environment. This is a good first step.”
Sen. Kushner praised some of the local investments in the state budget, including:
- $50,000 per year for Danbury-area early childhood programs
- $20,000 to help conduct an air quality survey in Sherman to address the opening of the Cricket Valley Energy Center in New York.
- Restoration of budget funds to keep open the Western Connecticut Mental Health Network in Danbury
- No local contributions to teacher’s pensions costs
- Increased ECS funding for Danbury, and a slower phase-in of reduced ECS funding for certain other towns compared to the governor’s plan
The biennial state budget highlights include:
Supporting Connecticut Families
- Includes funding to implement an increase in the minimum wage
- Funds a Paid Family Medical Leave program
Monumental Positive Changes for Higher Education
- Establishes debt-free community college for all Connecticut residents
- Increases funding for UConn by $9.7 million in 2020 and $20.6 million in 2021
Safeguarding Seniors
- Increases funding for nursing home workers that care for our seniors and avoids a statewide strike of workers ($11 million more in 2020 and $18.5 million more in 2021)
- Provides funding for the Center for Medicare Advocacy ($300,000 in each year)
- Increases funding for Meals on Wheels ($475,000 in each year)
Fiscal Responsibility
- Over $2.6 billion in the “Rainy Day” fund
- Only 1.7% growth in state spending in 2020 and 3.4% in 2021
- Only 0.3% growth in non-fixed cost state spending in 2020 and 2.1% in 2021
- 1,000 fewer Connecticut state employee positions
- Budget is under the constitutional spending cap, the bonding cap, the expenditure cap and the volatility cap.
Invests in Job Creation and Workforce Development
- Jobs Funnel Programs (Over $1 million each year)
- Manufacturing Pipeline Initiative ($2 million each year)
- Healthcare Apprenticeship Initiative ($500,000 each year)
- Connecticut’s Youth Employment Program ($5 million each year)
- Cradle to Career ($100,000 each year)
- Pilot Re-Entry Program ($800,000 each year)
- Veteran Machinists Training ($250,000 each year)
Holding the Line on Taxes
- No increase in the sales tax rate, though the current sales tax is modernized to cover digital downloads, dry-cleaning, parking, and interior design
- No increase in the income tax rate
- No increase in the capital gains tax rate
- Cuts income taxes for seniors on Social Security and pensions
- Eliminates the business entity tax to help new companies start-up and remove a nuisance tax on all businesses
Funding Our Pensions and Paying Down Our Debt
- Over $1.5 billion goes toward paying down last generation’s unfunded pensions
- Only $229 million or 13% is for current employees in 2020 and $220 million in 2021
- Funds 100% of pensions and benefits for current state employees and teachers
Other Investments
- Fully funds Passport to the Parks program
- Includes funding for Juvenile Justice ($11.7 Million in FY 20 and $10.2 Million in FY 21)
- Funds services for individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities including employment and day services for new high school graduates ($6.3 Million in FY 20 and $14.6 Million in FY 21) as well as individuals aging out of the Department of Children and Families and residential schools ($3 Million in FY 20 and $5.7 Million in FY 21)
- Preserves funding for mental health and substance abuse grants ($1.6 Million in each year)
- Provides funding for caseload growth in the Birth to Three program ($1.4 Million in FY 20 and $2 Million in FY 21)
- Includes funding for a new State Trooper Class in FY 20
- Provides funding to staff Welcome Centers and restore the hours of operation at the Rest Areas on our highways
- Provides $500,000 each year in new funding for the Connecticut Diaper Bank
- Funds the Foreclosure Mediation Program $1.8 Million in FY 20 and $2 Million in FY 21.
