HARTFORD- Rep. John Shaban (R-135) today expressed deep concern about the levels of taxation and increased spending in Governor Dannel Malloy’s proposed budget.
“I am disappointed that the Governor’s proposed budget tries to remedy years of reckless spending by increasing the tax burden on the same people who are now suffering as a result of this government imposed problem — essentially bleeding the patient yet again,” Shaban said.
The Governor proposes to spend almost $1 Billion more over the next two years, according to Gov. Malloy’s own budget director Ben Barnes. This jump in spending is accompanied by $1.5 billion in tax increases in the first year in everything from income taxes, sales taxes and property taxes.
Malloy’s proposals also include a mere 0.3% reduction in the State workforce, only one building closing, and a paltry $10 million savings through agency consolidations, which together hardly puts a dent in the current $3.5 billion deficit. “While I applaud the Governor’s willingness to ask State unions for concessions, I was hoping to see real reductions in our 45,000-plus government workforce and true consolidations. The elimination of a mere 150 people is, unfortunately, not near good enough.”
Rep. Shaban noted that this is the beginning of the budget process, and that he and his Republican colleagues intend to be heard. “We need to balance our State finances by getting the spending side of the balance sheet in order, not by imposing more taxes on the few folks left in Connecticut who can actually help regrow our economy.”
