Gov. Ned Lamont must propose a new state budget on Feb. 20 to balance finances for the next two fiscal years.

Legislators are expecting a blueprint that not only will avert major projected deficits, but will jump-start debates on taxes, municipal aid, education, social services, health care and transportation.

And behind all of that are surging retirement benefit and other debt costs expected to plague state finances for years to come.

So before you read Governor Lamont’s first budget proposal, here’s a quick quiz to bring you up to speed on the key fiscal issues facing legislators at the Capitol.

Keith has spent most of his 31 years as a reporter specializing in state government finances, analyzing such topics as income tax equity, waste in government and the complex funding systems behind Connecticut’s transportation and social services networks. He has been the state finances reporter at CT Mirror since it launched in 2010. Prior to joining CT Mirror Keith was State Capitol bureau chief for The Journal Inquirer of Manchester, a reporter for the Day of New London, and a former contributing writer to The New York Times. Keith is a graduate of and a former journalism instructor at the University of Connecticut.

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  1. For many years its been an article of faith that solving CT’s decades long economic, budget and unfunded pension problems requires a knowledgeable CEO rather than just a State politician. Despite broad evidence across the nation over many decades that “good politics” rather than “good business skills” creates the proper environment for rebounding a State’s economy and finances.

    Some 3 months past the election Gov. Lamont’s lack of a well crafted plan and failure to hire Top Talent will only encourage the continued Exodus of jobs, firms and residents (especially the wealthy) from CT. The Governor’s job has always been about “solving problems”. Just sending out throwaways such as taxes on pop soda and groceries. So we know our continued downhill future.

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