Balanced proposal spends less than Democrats' budget, cuts household costs, and delivers new school funding relief to every Connecticut community
HARTFORD—House Republicans on Tuesday released a budget adjustment plan for the second year of the state budget through a series of policies aimed at making Connecticut more affordable, lowering household costs, easing property tax pressures, and addressing the school funding crisis facing communities across the state.
The $27.9 billion plan, called “Pathway to Affordability,” is balanced, provides more than $400 million in tax relief, falls $167 million under the state spending cap, and spends less than the governor’s budget proposal and the product advanced by Appropriations Committee Democrats.
Our plan keeps us under the spending cap and puts real money back in people’s pockets,
Representative Vincent Candelora
House Republican Leader: (R-North Branford)
Connecticut's broken education funding formula has left cities and towns to make up the difference, and property taxpayers have been footing the bill. The House Republican School Taxpayer Relief and Affordability Plan, or STRAP, would put $365 million back into every community in the state. Because it is built directly into the state budget, towns can count on this funding year after year. No scrambling, no uncertainty, just real and sustainable relief for local property taxpayers while lawmakers work to fix the flawed Education Cost Sharing formula once and for all.
Connecticut is underfunding education, using a fatally flawed formula, which has not kept up with what it actually costs to educate a child, and towns are left making up the difference,
Representative Tammy Nuccio
House Ranking Member of the Appropriations Committee: (R-Tolland)
STRAP distributes $365 million to every Connecticut community on a proportional basis, using the same percentage each town already receives from the $2.3 billion ECS program.
Town
Total
$2,302,718
Current ECS
$2,004,782
House GOP STRAP Aid
$297,936
Total
$2,302,718
Current ECS entitlement $2,004,782. Enhanced education funding $297,936. Districts: 55th District.
Total
$24,502,615
Current ECS
$21,332,353
House GOP STRAP Aid
$3,170,262
Total
$24,502,615
Current ECS entitlement $21,332,353. Enhanced education funding $3,170,262. District membership needs review.
Total
$3,973,123
Current ECS
$3,459,062
House GOP STRAP Aid
$514,061
Total
$3,973,123
Current ECS entitlement $3,459,062. Enhanced education funding $514,061. District membership needs review.
Total
$1,044,500
Current ECS
$909,358
House GOP STRAP Aid
$135,142
Total
$1,044,500
Current ECS entitlement $909,358. Enhanced education funding $135,142. District membership needs review.
Total
$1,716,306
Current ECS
$1,494,242
House GOP STRAP Aid
$222,064
Total
$1,716,306
Current ECS entitlement $1,494,242. Enhanced education funding $222,064. Districts: 62nd District.
Total
$4,686,770
Current ECS
$4,080,374
House GOP STRAP Aid
$606,396
Total
$4,686,770
Current ECS entitlement $4,080,374. Enhanced education funding $606,396. Districts: 105th District.
Total
$8,313,272
Current ECS
$7,237,662
House GOP STRAP Aid
$1,075,610
Total
$8,313,272
Current ECS entitlement $7,237,662. Enhanced education funding $1,075,610. Districts: 30th District.
Total
$2,026,812
Current ECS
$1,764,574
House GOP STRAP Aid
$262,238
Total
$2,026,812
Current ECS entitlement $1,764,574. Enhanced education funding $262,238. Districts: 89th District.
Total
$11,540,876
Current ECS
$10,047,664
House GOP STRAP Aid
$1,493,212
Total
$11,540,876
Current ECS entitlement $10,047,664. Enhanced education funding $1,493,212. Districts: 107th District.
Total
$1,399,711
Current ECS
$1,218,610
House GOP STRAP Aid
$181,101
Total
$1,399,711
Current ECS entitlement $1,218,610. Enhanced education funding $181,101. Districts: 66th District.
Total
$9,243,866
Current ECS
$8,047,852
House GOP STRAP Aid
$1,196,014
Total
$9,243,866
Current ECS entitlement $8,047,852. Enhanced education funding $1,196,014. District membership needs review.
Total
$3,081,976
Current ECS
$2,683,216
House GOP STRAP Aid
$398,760
Total
$3,081,976
Current ECS entitlement $2,683,216. Enhanced education funding $398,760. Districts: 8th District, 55th District.
| Town | Current ECS | House GOP STRAP Aid | TOTAL |
|---|---|---|---|
Andover | $2,004,782 | $297,936 | $2,302,718 |
Ansonia | $21,332,353 | $3,170,262 | $24,502,615 |
Ashford | $3,459,062 | $514,061 | $3,973,123 |
Avon | $909,358 | $135,142 | $1,044,500 |
Barkhamsted | $1,494,242 | $222,064 | $1,716,306 |
Beacon Falls | $4,080,374 | $606,396 | $4,686,770 |
Berlin | $7,237,662 | $1,075,610 | $8,313,272 |
Bethany | $1,764,574 | $262,238 | $2,026,812 |
Bethel | $10,047,664 | $1,493,212 | $11,540,876 |
Bethlehem | $1,218,610 | $181,101 | $1,399,711 |
Bloomfield | $8,047,852 | $1,196,014 | $9,243,866 |
Bolton | $2,683,216 | $398,760 | $3,081,976 |
The Pathway to Affordability plan includes a broad range of tax and fee relief aimed at lowering household costs across Connecticut.
The relief we’re proposing isn’t a one-time check or a political stunt. It’s built into the budget, which means it’s sustainable.
Representative Joe Polletta
House Ranking Member of the Finance Committee (R-Watertown),
Raise the maximum property tax credit to $650 and expand income eligibility, extending relief to 800,000 filers.
Reduce the state levy on insurance companies by $20 million so less is passed on through monthly premiums.
Remove income tax on all Social Security benefits.
Eliminate the sales tax on children's clothing.
Enact a no tax on tips exemption.
Reduce the sales tax on vehicles priced between $50,000 and $75,000 from 7.75% to 6.35%.
Eliminate fees on certain occupational licenses.
Remove the Passport to Parks fee from motor vehicle registrations.
Provide $2.5 million to help municipalities cover early voting costs.
Eligible property: primary residence and/or owned or leased motor vehicle. Credit applied against state income tax; does not affect municipal revenue.
cthousegop.comThe plan is funded through reclaiming revenue and spending discipline. Initiatives include:
Recover $340 million by challenging New York’s “convenience of employer” rule
which forces roughly 80,000 Connecticut residents who work remotely for New York employers and pay income taxes to New York at rates higher (10.9% top rate) than they would pay here at home (6.99% top rate). The plan includes $1 million to help these workers file legal challenges against New York’s policy.
Save $153 million by budgeting state employee positions
based on realistic hiring trends rather than funding all vacancies at once
Save $61 million by eliminating state-funded health insurance for undocumented immigrants
who retain access to care through Federally Qualified Health Centers
Eliminate 25% of double-funding of ECS grants to municipalities
Save $12 million by reducing legislative earmarks
Save $3.5 million by eliminating inmate text messaging
The plan also includes targeted investments in public safety and human services.
$3.2 million to expand the CRISIS program
helping police respond to and de-escalate situations involving individuals experiencing mental health or substance abuse crises
$1.5 million for domestic violence shelters
Provides funding to hire investigators for Medicaid Fraud Control
$2.4 million to increase provider rates for Birth-to-Three child development services
Creates an income tax deduction (up to $2k) for volunteer firefighter and EMS personne
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