Rep. Klarides-Ditria Reacts to Governor’s Budget Proposal

HARTFORD- Lawmakers in the General Assembly were introduced to Governor Dan Malloy’s budget proposal today. State Representative Nicole Klarides-Ditria believes the governor’s plan to shift the state’s fiscal problems on to towns and middle-class families is a shortsighted solution to solving the state’s unstable  economic climate.

“The governor’s approach of targeting municipalities, hospitals, and funding to people that need it the most continues with the budget that he proposed today,” said Rep. Klarides-Ditria. “Residents and businesses want a long-term vision for the state of Connecticut that provides real relief, stability, and predictability.  I will stay committed to developing bold solutions, with my colleagues in the House and Senate,  that will provide residents and businesses with a state government that no longer kicks the can down the road.”

The budget eliminates the property tax credit for homeowners, makes significant changes to the state’s Education Cost Sharing formula, and forces towns and cities to tax hospitals by $250 million through the elimination of PILOT funds.

Earlier this week, House and Senate Republicans released their proposal to reinstate nearly $20 million in education funding that was cut mid-year to cities and towns throughout the state. The proposal would also eliminate the projected fiscal year 2017 budget deficit.  In the two-year budget passed in 2015 the majority party Democrats built in a $20 million per year cut to municipalities. In 2016 they eliminated the cut from the budget, but the governor used a line-item veto to put the cut back in, which he made in December.

The budget process now begins, and members of the General Assembly have until the end of the session, June 7th, to pass a budget. The state budget is on pace to be $1.7 billion in deficit next year and $1.9 billion in deficit the following year.

###