Connecticut government officials rolled up their sleeves at a legislative leaders breakfast in Stamford and plunged deep into discussion about this year”™s agenda and budget. Among the hot-button topics were transportation, taxes and the economy.
The event, hosted by The Business Council of Fairfield County on March 19, invited House Republican Leader Larry Cafero of Norwalk, Senate Republican Leader John McKinney of Fairfield, Speaker of the House J. Brendan Sharkey (D-Hamden) and Senate President Pro Tempore Donald Williams, D-Brooklyn, to take center stage and address the issues head on.
The state”™s transportation fund has been shortchanged over the years with money being pulled out to support the state”™s general budget, said Joe McGee, vice president of public policy at The Business Council of Fairfield County. The Lock Box bill, a policy that aims to prevent funds from being removed from the state”™s transportation budget, is expected to be put up for vote during this legislative session. This would prevent misallocation of funds that would otherwise contribute to key transportation projects, including the New Haven Line.
“There is discussion about making investments in infrastructure and transportation, particularly the New Haven Line,” McGee said. “There”™s growing recognition that the New Haven Line is the economic engine for Connecticut.”
Years ago, income taxes banded discontent Connecticut residents together. Now, the big uproar is over property tax hikes, McGee said.
“People pay more on property taxes than income taxes, depending on where they live,” he said. “The Legislature’s Committee on Finance and Bonding is forming a committee to conduct a year study of the property tax system in Connecticut to look at ways to lessen the burden of it.”
Connecticut has had the slowest job growth in the country for the last 20 years, and there”™s an ongoing debate about how to grow the state”™s economy, McGee said.
“We only recovered half of the 119,200 jobs we lost during the recession, so that is of great concern to policy makers,” he said. “While the governor is using incentives to get companies to come to Connecticut, Republicans are saying ”˜We”™d rather invest in infrastructure and education than give money to businesses.”™”
The gubernatorial election this year will determine the direction and future of the state”™s economy for years to come, McGee added.
