The Connecticut Council of Small Towns (COST), which represents 110 smaller communities throughout Connecticut, presented two lawmakers with Town Crier Awards at its annual meeting on January 16 at the Aqua Turf in Plantsville, Connecticut.

COST’s Town Crier Award was established to recognize and honor state lawmakers, municipal officials, and others who have distinguished themselves as outstanding advocates on issues affecting Connecticut’s small towns.

This year’s recipients are Sen. Kevin Witkos (R-Canton) who represents Avon, Barkhamsted, Canton, Colebrook, Granby, Hartland, Harwinton, New Hartford, Norfolk, Simsbury and Torrington; and Rep. Vincent Candelora (R-North Branford) who represents Durham, Guilford, North Branford and Wallingford.

“Sen. Witkos is a tireless champion for Connecticut’s small towns,” said Leo Paul, First Selectman of Litchfield and COST’s Past President, in presenting the award.

“His leadership and advocacy on a wide range of municipal issues has been instrumental in addressing the needs of the state’s smaller communities,” Paul added. “He has been a strong advocate for providing towns with much-needed relief from unfunded state mandates and in supporting programs that are critical to our small towns, such as the Resident State Trooper program.”

“We are honored to present Rep. Candelora with COST’s Town Crier Award,” said Tom Banisch, First Selectman of the Town of Madison and COST’s Vice President.

“Rep. Candelora is very responsive to the needs of Connecticut’s small towns. He understands how changes in municipal funding, particularly midyear cuts in funding, will affect property taxpayers and the delivery of critical local services,” said Banisch. “We appreciate his longstanding commitment to fighting for Connecticut’s small towns.”

The Connecticut Council of Small Towns (COST) is an advocacy organization committed to giving small towns a strong voice in the legislative process.

With tax season quickly approaching, I wanted to make sure you were aware of some pertinent information to ensure that seniors in Connecticut receive all of the tax relief to which they are entitled.

Last session, I joined my colleagues in the legislature in passing a budget that provided tax relief for seniors. Namely, we passed two provisions, one of which eliminated the income tax on Social Security and the other phases out the income tax on pensions.

 Social Security Income Tax Deduction

Effective for tax years beginning after 2019, individual taxpayers may deduct 100 percent of Social Security income, if federal adjusted gross income (AGI) is less than:

• $75,000 for single filers and married taxpayers filing separately; or
• $100,000 joint filers and heads of household

Furthermore, taxpayers with incomes equal to or greater than the thresholds qualify for a 75 percent deduction. The income thresholds are increased from $50,000 and $60,000, respectively.

Retirement Income Tax Deductions

Effective beginning with the 2019 tax year, individual taxpayers may deduct a portion of retirement income that is included in federal gross income, if federal AGI is below:

• $75,000 for single filers, married taxpayers filing separately, and heads of households; or
• $100,000 for married taxpayers filing jointly

The deduction is equal to:

• 14% of pension or annuity income for the 2019 taxable year
• 28% of that income for the 2020 taxable year
• 42% of that income for the 2021 taxable year
• 56% of that income for the 2022 taxable year
• 70% of that income for the 2023 taxable year
• 84% of that income for the 2024 taxable year
• 100% of that income for the 2025 taxable year

Under current law, military and railroad retirement that is included in federal gross income is fully deductible.

Please consider sharing this information.

As always, do not hesitate to contact me at 1-800-842-1423 or Vincent.Candelora@housegop.ct.gov if you have any questions relating to state government.

Sincerely,

A four-person committee created Wednesday by members of the state’s House of Representatives to review the circumstances that caused 76 residents of Stratford’s 120^th District to receive the wrong Election Day ballots will issue its findings by February 4^th.

The race between incumbent Democrat Phil Young and Republican Jim Feehan was decided by just 13 votes, and House Republican Leader Themis Klarides explained to members of the chamber Wednesday how important the work of this bipartisan committee is ensuring Stratford voters weren’t disenfranchised.

Rep. Klarides said, “This year Rule 19 is of special importance because we have a contested election in the 120th district.  Pursuant to Rule 19 the committee on contested elections will take into consideration the contested election and report the facts of the contest along with their opinion back to the House.  I look forward this committee working to find a fair resolution to the election in the 120th that will ensure that no members of the public will be disenfranchised and denied their ability to vote for their own state representative.”

The committee includes Representatives Vincent Candelora, Jason Perillo, Mike D’Agostino and Gregg Haddad. It will hold its first meeting Friday at 3:00 p.m. in room 1B of the Legislative Office Building.

“I look forward to serving on this committee to make sure the integrity of the process occurs and voters were not disenfranchised,” said State Representative Vincent Candelora.

“We need to take this committee very seriously and work bipartisanly to find a solution,” said Rep. Perillo. “If voters were disenfranchised then a new election must occur. Every vote should count!”

Connecticut’s Supreme Court took up the issue after Feehan filed suit over the controversy. Justices said House members were responsible for handling the Stratford voting controversy, which incumbent Young—sent to Hartford in a special election last winter—has acknowledged is a problem.