While cheers and applause could be heard within the chamber at the state capitol during Gov. Ned Lamont’s budget presentation on Wednesday, Feb. 5, the collective moans and groans by local leaders outside the confines of the building can still be heard.
The Connecticut Conference of Municipalities conducted a meeting of its member towns and cities and the message received was universal and clear: “Local governments cannot continue the heavy reliance on property taxes to bear the burden of the state not fulfilling its basic responsibilities regarding municipal aid.”
CCM pledged to work with cities and towns in taking their message and supportive data regarding the local impact to the people – in all corners of the state – through all available means.
“Our cities and towns deserve better,” said Joe DeLong, CCM executive director and CEO. “After boasting about seven years of budget surpluses at the state level, the state’s ongoing neglect not only undermines the quality of life in our neighborhoods, but forces local leaders into making impossible budgetary decisions that sacrifice critical services and long-term community investments.”
With inflationary pressures continuing, the consequences of the governor’s proposed budget were stressed by many during the meeting and included possible layoffs, service reductions and more increases in property taxes. Couple the inadequate funding from the state with ongoing unfunded mandates, a growing list of exemptions and motor vehicle tax adjustments and you have nothing more than a strangulation of growth locally, CCM said in a statement released Thursday, Feb. 6.
“Communities deserve a state that invests in them – one that recognizes that robust local funding is the foundation for a resilient and thriving society,” the organization stated.
“This budget fails to meet the fundamental needs of our cities and towns and severely jeopardizes local community’s long-term sustainability,” DeLong said. “CCM, along with cities and towns, are hopeful policymakers will implement a budget that reflects meaningful changes that will truly provide relief to local governments and property taxpayers alike.”
In his speech in the Hall of the House of Representatives Wednesday, Feb. 5 the state’s Democratic governor unveiled his $55 billion fiscal year 2026 and 2027 biennium budget proposal. He stated that he wants to increase the cap threshold by $288.9 million in order to fund the endowment
He also proposes, among many things, a middle class tax cut that includes raising the property tax credit to $350 per homeowner, which would affect about 800,000 taxpayers who qualify.
