House Republican leaders Vincent Candelora and Lezlye Zupkus respond to Senate Democrats’ S.B. 7 proposal and call for school funding solutions that reduce property tax burdens.
Key Takeaways
- House Republicans say property taxes remain a central affordability issue tied directly to education funding.
- They argue increased ECS aid must not trigger higher local taxes through the Minimum Budget Requirement.
- Candelora and Zupkus call for bipartisan solutions that fund schools while lowering property tax pressure.
HARTFORD—House Republican Leader Vincent Candelora (R-North Branford) and State Rep. Lezlye Zupkus (R-Prospect), House Ranking Member of the Education Committee, released the following statement Wednesday in response to Senate Democrats’ news conference to promote S.B. 7, An Act Concerning Educational Equity:
“Property taxes are a major driver of Connecticut's affordability crisis, and education funding is at the heart of the issue. While Democrats have previously directed hundreds of millions of dollars toward higher education, sacrificing K-12 students and property taxpayers in the process, House Republicans have consistently fought to protect local aid and secure more special education funding. This session, we've again put forward legislation (H.B. 5093) to address the problem. We appreciate that Democrats are now joining us on the property tax crisis and look forward to working together toward real solutions. But we have to get this right. Under current law, increased ECS funding can actually force towns to raise property taxes to meet the Minimum Budget Requirement, and the last thing the majority party should do is add to the massive tax burden our residents are already facing. More state aid shouldn't mean higher local tax bills. We can fund our schools and cut property taxes. That's the standard any solution must meet.”