Update: May 1 7:15 p.m. – State Response to Coronavirus
Friends and Neighbors,
During a midday press conference, Governor Lamont announced a projected major budget shortfall that will grow from about $1 billion in the fiscal year that ends in June to more than $2 billion in the next fiscal year and going forward. To close the gap, the governor’s budget director said a planned reduction in a surcharge on the corporation tax that would save Connecticut businesses about $23 million next year might be deferred but spending cuts would still be needed and the state’s Rainy Day Fund would be emptied.
The CTMirror has the story here.
To watch the full video of the governor’s morning press conference on the state budget, please click here:
Tonight, Governor Lamont announced Executive Order 7HH which suspends the requirement for municipalities to hold a town meeting or referendum to adopt a budget, and authorizes common interest communities to conduct business remotely.
More information and the governor’s full press release can be read here: https://portal.ct.gov/Office-of-the-Governor/News/Press-Releases/2020/05-2020/Governor-Lamont-Coronavirus-Update-May-1
The full Executive Order can be found here: https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/Office-of-the-Governor/Executive-Orders/Lamont-Executive-Orders/Executive-Order-No-7HH.pdf
Executive Order No. 7HH enacts the following provisions:
- Mandatory suspension of annual town meeting or referendum to adopt budget: This clarifies that going forward, the relevant elected body or bodies in each municipality must adopt a budget for 2020-2021 without an in-person vote by residents. It also validates any budget referendum or annual town meeting that has already been conducted. This order clarifies Executive Order No. 7I, Section 13, to provide uniformity and consistency, and prioritize safety while the risk of transmission of COVID-19 in large gatherings remains high.
- Authorization for common-interest communities to hold meetings remotely: This allows common interest communities, such as condominium associations and homeowners associations, to conduct business remotely and hold votes entirely by ballot if their by-laws or governing documents do not already permit it.
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SSI and VA recipients reminded to take action by May 5 to receive federal stimulus payments for dependents
While many people in Connecticut have already received their coronavirus stimulus payments as part of the federal assistance meant to help Americans suffering from the financial fallout of COVID-19, Governor Lamont is reminding non-filers who have dependents that they must register with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) by noon on May 5, 2020 in order to have $500 per child added to their $1,200 coronavirus stimulus payment. This includes residents who receive either Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits and didn’t file a tax return in 2018 or 2019.
U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and qualifying resident aliens who have a valid Social Security number, could not be claimed as a dependent of another taxpayer, and had an adjusted gross income under certain limits are eligible for the Economic Impact Payments. While most eligible U.S. taxpayers are receiving their Economic Impact payments automatically, non-filers who have dependents need to provide information to the IRS to receive the additional funding.
For more information on the steps non-filers should take, click here for guidance from the IRS.
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Additional SNAP benefits coming May 8 for nearly 100,000 households in Connecticut
The Department of Social Services will be providing $15.4 million in Emergency Supplemental Nutrition Assistance (SNAP) benefits to nearly half of Connecticut’s SNAP participants on Friday, May 8, 2020 – adding to the $32.7 million in emergency benefits disbursed in April.
Authorized by the federal Families First Coronavirus Response Act of 2020, the extra food benefits are going to nearly 100,000 households not currently receiving the maximum benefits allowed for their household size. This means that all households enrolled in SNAP will receive the maximum food benefit allowable for their household size, even if they are not usually eligible for the maximum benefit.
Specifically:
- The Department of Social Services expects that nearly 100,000 of 212,000 SNAP-participating households statewide will receive the emergency benefits in May.
- With this additional $15.4 million allocation by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service, emergency benefits are totaling over $48 million in additional SNAP assistance statewide during April and May, with commensurate spending in the food economy.
- The average emergency benefit amount a household will see on its electronic benefits transfer (EBT) card on May 8 in $150.
- All participating households will also receive their normal SNAP benefits on the first three days of each month they normally do, according to last name.
For example, if a household of two would normally receive $255 of SNAP benefits in May, $100 would bring this household up to the maximum benefit for its size. This household would receive a $100 emergency benefit on May 8.
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Governor Announces Projected Budget Deficits
During a midday press conference, Governor Lamont announced a projected major budget shortfall that will grow from about $1 billion in the fiscal year that ends in June to more than $2 billion in the next fiscal year and going forward.
To close the gap, the governor’s budget director said planned tax cuts might be canceled and a planned reduction in a surcharge on the corporation tax that would save Connecticut businesses about $23 million next year might be deferred. She also said hundreds of millions in spending cuts would still be needed and the state’s Rainy Day Fund would be emptied.
The CTMirror has the story here.
To watch a video of his press conference, please click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUX6RJPgjMg
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Governor Lamont Announces Federal Approval of Crisis Counseling Funding Under Connecticut’s Major Disaster Declaration
Funding for Mental Health Program Benefiting Individuals Impacted by COVID-19 is an Add-On to the State’s Major Disaster Declaration
(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has approved another portion of his ongoing request for disaster assistance as part of the State of Connecticut’s Major Disaster Declaration due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Today’s approval includes funding for crisis counseling under the individual assistance category, which will help support mental health initiatives designed to benefit individuals affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Previously, FEMA approved Governor Lamont’s request for public assistance for Connecticut, allowing impacted state agencies, municipalities, and tribal nations in all eight of the state’s counties to be reimbursed by the federal government for 75 percent of the costs associated with their response and emergency protective measures. A supplemental request from the governor to increase that reimbursement to 100 percent is still pending.
Other requests by Governor Lamont for individual assistance remain under review by FEMA, including in the categories of disaster unemployment assistance, disaster case management, disaster legal services, child care assistance, and funeral assistance.
More information can be found here: https://portal.ct.gov/Office-of-the-Governor/News/Press-Releases/2020/05-2020/Governor-Lamont-Announces-Federal-Approval-of-Crisis-Counseling-Funding
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As of 4:30 p.m. tonight – Friday, May 1st – the state has diagnosed a total of 28764 cases of Coronavirus. Updated virus totals and Town-by-Town statistics can be accessed here: https://portal.ct.gov/Coronavirus
The total statewide number of COVID-19 associated fatalities is 2339.
Latest COVID-19 Testing Data in Connecticut
Updated 4:30 p.m. on Friday, May 1, 2020
Total patients who tested positive: 28764
Fairfield County: 11612
Hartford County: 5931
Litchfield County: 1014
Middlesex County: 687
New Haven County: 7900
New London County: 603
Tolland County: 446
Windham County: 200
Pending address validation: 371