In his opening remarks for the 2014 legislative session Thursday, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy emphasized continued support for new and existing jobs programs, as well as five ways to increase students’ access to quality education.
His $19 billion budget proposal includes no new taxes and a $440 million tax relief plan for middle class families and individuals. A $500 million budget surplus is expected this year.
“This is modest ”“ but real”“ relief,” Malloy told General Assembly members. “Relief designed to ease the burden of working families and help them share in Connecticut”™s recovery, now and into the future.”
On the jobs front, Malloy proposed $125 million in continued support for the state’s small business programs, including a new $3.6 million job readiness program and $25 million advanced manufacturing fund.
In the last three years roughly 40,000 private sector jobs have been created, due in part by the state’s 2011 jobs bill, Malloy said. Some 1,000 businesses received loans through the state’s small business express program, supporting 13,800 jobs, and about 570 businesses used the state’s Step Up program to hire 2,000 workers who were previously unemployed.
“We need to keep removing barriers to employment and reducing the number of unemployed workers in Connecticut,” Malloy said. “We can do it by continuing to support our successful STEP UP program with an additional $10 million investment in the coming fiscal year, so we can incentivize employers to hire and train more people.”
Malloy also mentioned his support in raising the minimum wage to $10.10 per hour by 2017.
Malloy proposed five ways to increase students’ access to education: a 40 percent increase in pre-kindergarten enrollment, Â a $134.5 million investment in the state college and university system, a high-tech associate degree program for high school students, scholarships for college dropouts and tax-free college savings accounts for new parents.
“Years from now, when the great recession is a distant memory, long after the political battles of this year have faded, this should be our legacy,” he said. “That we made sure all Connecticut kids get a great education, one that starts early and takes them as far as their dreams and hard work will allow.”
