Sen. Slap, Mayor Cantor Testify in Support of Proposal to Support Towns, Restaurants, Tourism

Senate Bill 2 Could Direct over $2 million in Municipal Aid to the District

Mayor Shari Cantor and State Senator Derek Slap testify in front of the Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee

From L to R: West Hartford Mayor Shari Cantor, State Senator Derek Slap, President & CEO of the Connecticut Restaurant & Hospitality Association Scott Dolch, Restauranteur Aubrey LaMonica and General Manager of Hotel Marcel Ben Webster

HARTFORD – Today, State Senator Derek Slap and West Hartford Mayor Shari Cantor testified in support of legislation that would provide significant municipal funding while supporting the restaurant, hospitality and tourism industries. Senate Bill 2 takes the 1% surcharge on the meals sales tax at restaurants and directs half to the municipality from which the revenue came from, and half to the Tourism Fund.

The legislation has broad support from the Connecticut Restaurant Association, municipal leaders, the hospitality and tourism industries and humanities advocates.

“This legislation takes an existing revenue stream and directs it to municipal aid and ties the success of the restaurant industry to our state’s investment into promoting tourism,” said Sen. Derek Slap. “This proposal would relieve pressure on local taxpayers and municipal budgets, encourage investment in the restaurant industry, and help Connecticut harness more tourism dollars. It really is a win-win and I’m grateful to Senate leadership for making this proposal a caucus priority.”

“Senate Bill 2 is a smart, structural fix that aligns revenue with responsibility,” said Mayor Shari Cantor. “By returning a portion of meals tax revenue to municipalities, we can support the small businesses that are the fabric of our communities, strengthen local economies, and generate long-term growth for the state.”

In FY 25 the 1% surcharge generated the following revenues in each of the towns in the 5th district:

• Bloomfield: $353,695.51
• Burlington: $76,547.483
• Farmington: $819,469.66
• West Hartford: $3,310,779.86

Half of these funds would go directly to the town from which it originated, and half would be directed to the Tourism Fund.