Bipartisan Budget Agreement Reached, Bill Now Heads to The Governor

HARTFORD – State Representative Tim Ackert (R-8) voted on behalf of a bipartisan budget for the state’s 2018-2019 biennium. Passage of September’s bipartisan budget helped set the stage for this agreement which will put a stop to the massive educational and municipal cuts that would have continued to take place through the governor’s executive order.

“Ensuring that something for those being affected by crumbling foundations was included within this budget was imperative for me,” Rep. Ackert said. “This budget will finally stabilize our communities and stop the uncertainty they have been under for several months.”

This budget agreement has worked to avert Governor Malloy’s cuts to many critical social service programs and protects funding for Care4Kids, CT Home care for the elderly, and firefighter training schools.

Moving forward, state employee union contracts will now require votes by the House and Senate before any contract can become law.

“Many pieces that have been included within this budget are things that I have been fighting for since I took office,” Rep. Ackert said. “The inclusion of a spending cap, phasing out of the social security tax and estate tax are significantly going to help residents of this state moving forward.”

The bipartisan budget which has passed both the House and Senate does not include increases to the sales or income tax, a cell phone surcharge tax, restaurant tax, taxing second homes, or shifting 1/3 of teacher’s pensions onto local municipalities, or the reintroduction of tolls.

The budget passed 126-23 and will now move onto the governor’s desk for his signature.