Zawistowski, Republicans Unveil No-Tax-Increase State Budget Plan

HARTFORD – State Representative Tami Zawistowski, joined by her Republican colleagues in the House and Senate, unveiled a no-tax-increase budget proposal that focuses on stability and predictability.

The Republican driven ‘Confident Connecticut’ state budget proposal includes increased education funding with a new funding formula, restores money for core social services, and provides significant structural changes to state government.

“For too long, Connecticut taxpayers have been forced to contend with the majority party’s poor fiscal policies,” said Rep. Zawistowski. “Residents and job creators have suffered the two largest tax increases in just the last six years, yet we still remain in a permanent fiscal crisis. It is clear that the way we have been doing things isn’t working and it is time for a new approach.”

Highlights of the Republican plan include:
• $313 million less spending than the Governor’s proposed budget
• Does not shift teachers’ pension responsibilities to towns
• Creates a new Education Cost Sharing formula that adds predictability for communities
• Restores a property tax credit for seniors and families
• Institutes a constitutional spending cap
• Does not implement tolls in Connecticut

“It’s clear that there are no easy options to get out of this fiscal calamity that has been created and sustained by the majority party’s policies over the past decades, but the Republican proposal is a significant step in the right direction,” continued Rep. Zawistowski. “We, the House and Senate Republican caucuses, are ready to lead Connecticut to a stable and prosperous future.”

House and Senate Republicans asked the Democrat chairs on the Appropriations Committee to call a meeting on Thursday to take a vote on the Republican budget plan, but the Democrat leadership refused to call the meeting.