State Rep. Gale Mastrofrancesco Op-Ed: New Year Column

As 2020 begins Connecticut taxpayers are hit once again with some new taxes hurting their family budget.

They include taxes on:
• Dry Cleaning – Existing state sales tax rate will be expanded to dry cleaning services & laundry services
• Parking – Existing state sales tax rate will be expanded to parking fees
• Interior Design Service – Existing state sales tax rate will be expanded to interior design services
• Safety Apparel – Tax exempt status on safety apparel will be repealed, subjecting these items to existing sales tax rate (reflective vests, protective gloves, etc.)

Additionally, many other new pieces of legislation became effective on January 1. Some of these new laws may have an impact on you, your business, or our community. I have highlighted some noteworthy new laws below and encourage you to take a look at the full list, which can be accessed by clicking here.

Secondly, back last fall, when my colleagues and I voiced outrage with a new tax on groceries, legislative democrats said the state budget did not include such a tax even though it specifically said there was language of the budget.

The Democrat lawmakers told the public it would only apply to food items already subject to the sales tax. But the legislation included language that expanded the tax to hundreds of grocery store items never taxed before including rotisserie chickens, bags of lettuce and loose bagels and baked goods.

Well, low and behold, it turns out we were right all along there was a new 1% tax on groceries. The state’s Department of Revenue Services is now proposing 2020 legislation to eliminate the so-called grocery tax approved by the very same Democrats in their state budget passed last year.

This is the exact type of political dishonesty that fosters mistrust in state government among Connecticut residents. I will continue to shine a light on these issues, providing a more open and transparent state government.

Let’s start a new 2020 path of fiscal responsibility, no more tax increases on Connecticut families, no more new sources of revenue for new pet projects, and no tolls on state highways that will make living in Connecticut less affordable. The General Assembly needs to stop spending state money like it’s a never-ending resource and learn to live within their means.

I encourage you to contact me at the Capitol (860-240-8700) to discuss these topics or any other state issue that may concern you. You can email my office at Gale.Mastrofrancesco@housegop.ct.gov.