May 2, 2023

House Republicans Unveil Biennial Budget Proposal

This article was archived from the previous WordPress site. Formatting and media should be close, but may not match the original post perfectly.

HARTFORD— State Representative Kathy Kennedy (R-119) joined fellow House Republicans on Tuesday and released a balanced budget proposal that provides more than $1 billion in broad-based tax relief to Connecticut residents while also making historic investments in education and providing more funding for nonprofit providers.

“As an advocate for our families, students, and local non-profits, I am excited to join my colleagues in unveiling a budget that provides significant income tax relief, a long-term investment in our public schools, and that doubles the funding for our non-profits, as compared to other proposals,” said Kennedy. “Our budget is the solution to wrongful spending, eliminating high taxes, and counteracting the recent effects of inflation.”

The Republican budget meets the challenge of funding core government services, and in several cases spends more in key areas than Democrats. That includes a $290 million investment in local education funding that provides fully funded special education grants (more than $50 million) for the first time. The budget matches Democrat-level funding for colleges and universities but also installs new reporting requirements for both the UConn and CSCU systems. The plan also provides a 2.5 percent increase for nonprofit service providers.

Summary of Republican Budget & Policy Points

(Download full documentation at taxreliefbudget.com)

Tax Relief for Connecticut Residents ($200 million more than Governor or legislative Democrats)

Adopt but enhance Governor’s income tax cut proposal by using one-time $300 million of FY23 surplus to make it retroactive to January 2023. Removes benefit from top 1 percent earners
Create first-ever state child tax deduction for everyone, $2,000 deduction per child
Help job creators by restoring pass-through entity tax credit to 93.01 percent
Eliminate Highway Use Tax on trucks
Establish phase-out threshold for state tax on retirement income
Eliminates sales tax on children’s clothing under $100

Supporting Students, Parents, Educators

Invests $290 million in education, including $214 million to implement components of H.B. 5003, $20 million to hold harmless towns that would have seen an ECS decrease; fully funds special education grants ($50 million); funds Danbury charter school ($4 million)
Expands support for Care4Kids program ($60 million)
Increases minority teacher scholarship funding by $1 million
Meets Democrats’ funding level on higher education, but requires oversight
Increase parent representation on State BOE and Parent Cabinet

General Government

Increases funding for nonprofit social service providers by 2.5 percent ($100 million)
Fully funds effort to eliminate DSS waitlist
Save $200 million by reducing number of budgeted but unfilled positions across state government
Increases investment in gun violence prevention programs
Increases current services funding for rail and bus
Eliminates proposed messaging program for inmates, saves taxpayers $3.5 million
Enhanced 2-1-1 crisis services for housing and homelessness ($2.4 million)
Reinstate Transportation Strategy Board to review investments and recommend savings
Increases pay for assigned counsel in public defender cases ($23 million)
Expands GPS monitoring for domestic violence offenders ($6 million)
Increases funding to Women’s Business Development Council to almost $1 million
Invests in firefighter training, creates $1 million support fund for families of fallen officers
Doubles what Democrats provided for senior meals funding to $3 million

Greater detail at: taxreliefbudget.com