Posted on April 25, 2024
Cheeseman, House Republicans Offer Plan to Balance State Budget
Contains structural spending reforms, invests in local education, under the spending cap
HARTFORD—Today at the State Capitol, State Rep. Holly Cheeseman (R-37) and her House Republican colleagues released a plan to balance the second year of the state budget, keeping a promise to Connecticut residents by honoring the fiscal guardrails, focusing on affordability, pursuing structural spending reforms, and supplying funding in critical areas such as local education to help prevent more pressure on local property taxpayers.
House Republicans, led by their Leader State Rep. Vincent Candelora began developing their plan to balance the budget after the Democrat-controlled Appropriations Committee decided against adjusting the $25.9 billion budget for FY25, which becomes effective July 1. Inaction would leave the budget out of balance and vulnerable to discretionary decisions from the Governor, who would have authority to make changes outside of the legislative session.
As the ranking member of the Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee, Rep. Cheeseman was disappointed both Appropriations and Finance committees abdicated their responsibilities to present a state budget and revenue adjustment.
“We have a responsibility to reflect reality when it comes to our budget. Our budget looks at current revenue. Many school districts are struggling with the skyrocketing costs of special education, this budget plan looks to keep the promise made last year to fully fund special education in Connecticut and help alleviate the need to increase local property taxes.”
Cheeseman noted that the School and State Finance Project, a nonpartisan policy organization focused on ensuring equitable education funding for all Connecticut students, applauded the House Republican budget plan ‘that prioritizes K-12 education, reduces potential burdens on property taxpayers and local budgets, and keeps the promises made last year to Connecticut’s over 500,000 students.”
Keeping the promise to Connecticut families, the House Republican plan directs their focus toward supporting children at the beginning of their educational journey. Republicans propose $236 million more for local education funding, including an additional $79 million more for surging special education costs. By providing an additional $12 million to increase reimbursement rates ($120 per hour to $167) to Birth to Three child services providers, Republicans will unlock more federal funding to help with staffing shortages. Responding to the state’s childcare crunch,
Republicans matched the $12 million increase proposed by Gov. Lamont for the Care4Kids program.
The House Republican plan doesn’t tap remaining federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars, leaving at least $200 million available for acute needs such as funding for nonprofit service social providers, shoring up the state’s unemployment compensation fund, additional childcare investments, or higher education. The House Republican budget adjustments have been vetted by the state’s nonpartisan Office of Fiscal Analysis.
In their plan to shift budget priorities toward core commitments to residents, House Republicans also propose to:
House Republicans fund priority initiatives by continuing their push for structural changes in the budget, including: