No New Taxes, No Cuts In Education Aid To Stratford
Senator Dan Debicella (R-21), Representative, John Harkins (R-120), and Representative Lawrence Miller (R-122) praised Governor M. Jodi Rell’s proposed $38 billion, two-year state budget as a responsible plan for preserving necessary government programs and services without burdening state residents with new sales and income taxes.
“The Governor’s budget has no new taxes, and maintains Stratford’s educational funding at $20.5 million,” Senator Debicella said. “Not raising taxes and maintaining the historic 21% increase in state aid Stratford received in the last two years are my top priorities-and Governor Rell delivered on both.”
According to Debicella, the Governor closed an estimated $6 billion budget deficit by shrinking the size of state government. Governor Rell’s budget eliminates 800 state employee positions, eliminates or consolidates 23 state agencies, seeks union concessions of $550 million, requires higher co-payments in Medicaid, and increases some state fees and license costs.
“I strongly support the no tax increase budget Governor Rell unveiled today. It will help bring Connecticut out of the current recession without doing permanent harm to our state’s economy, create and preserve jobs, encourage business growth and maintain our competitive advantage with other states when we emerge from the recession,” said Representative Miller. “While her targeted spending cuts, elimination of 400 currently vacant state government positions, and merging several state agencies to eliminate duplication and waste may cause some temporary pain, over the long term, it will mean a more efficient and responsive state government that will restore prosperity and full employment and will better serve the people of Connecticut in the years ahead.”
“Governor Rell’s proposed budget is the right one for Connecticut at a time when individuals, families and employers are enduring one of the worst recessions in recent memory,” said Representative Harkins. “It is a responsible and prudent package that reduces the size of state government, making it leaner and more efficient without impinging on critical state services. By avoiding tax increases on families, individuals and employers, it sets the stage for an economic recovery that will enable our state to emerge from the recession stronger and more competitive than ever. It addresses the needs of Stratford residents by calling for the repeal or modification of unfunded state mandates that lead to increases in property tax rates and refusing to consider cuts to state education aid and other grants to towns. It is a budget that is appropriate for difficult economic times and it is one that I strongly endorse.”
