Delnicki Votes for Budget that Restores Education, Municipal Funding

Hartford – Representative Tom Delnicki voted for a bipartisan budget that averts Gov. Malloy’s devastating education cuts to cities and towns and installs structural municipal mandate reform that will provide long-term relief sought by local leaders and the taxpayers they serve.

Delnicki said that this bipartisan state budget puts an end to a four-month standstill and restores local municipal and education funding. Under the governor’s executive earlier this month, South Windsor would have lost most of its municipal and funding. Under the budget that was passed today, South Windsor will not receive such a devastating cut with less than a million in cuts.

“I am relieved to see that Gov. Malloy’s executive order that would decimate education funding in South Windsor is no longer an option,” said Delnicki. “Although I would like more funding, I have to say that the town council in its infinite wisdom planned for a cut much greater reduction. In light of the town council’s hard work coupled with efforts here in the legislature, the impact has been mitigated substantially.”

“This budget provides funding provides funding for crumbling foundations and a number of safeguards going forward so that we don’t perpetuate the problem. One of the reasons I ran for legislative office was to address the crumbling foundation issue, and we accomplish that in this budget. And today we made a good start by passing this budget.” Delnicki added.

Budget highlights include:

• Enacts the constitutional spending cap that was first approved by voters in 1992
• Imposes a $1.9 billion cap on bonding, $500 million less than what was bonded last year
• Restores municipal aid and education funding to South Windsor to the tune of $14.4 million
• Protects core social services
• Supports seniors and tax cuts on retirees
• Imposes a state employee hiring freeze
• Requires mandatory votes on union contracts by the legislature
• Provides municipal mandate relief and prevailing wage reform, raising the threshold from $400,000 to $1 million
• Phases in tax reductions on pensions and social security

The budget also stopped proposals which would have raised taxes on our residents including:

• No sales tax increase
• No income tax increase
• No tax on cell phones
• No restaurant tax
• No business tax increase
• Does not shift teachers pensions on to municipalities
• No tolls

The plan passed the Senate 33-3 Wednesday evening and by 126-23 in the House of Representatives on Thursday. The budget awaits action from the governor.