CT’s 15.1% return ranked in the top 23% of returns achieved by major public pension funds over the past fiscal year.
Keith M. Phaneuf
Keith has spent most of his four decades 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.
Posted inHuman Services, Money
Report: About 570,000 CT households struggle with poverty
Household poverty shrank modestly from 2023 to 2024, based on United Way’s ALICE measure, but the organization fears poverty is now worsening.
Posted inMoney
GOP legislators renew call for major CT tax relief
GOP lawmakers renewed its call for major tax relief, but Democrats say Republicans would weaken efforts to shrink CT’s big pension debt.
Posted inEducation, Money
Scanlon: CT fiscal guardrail reform could help address special education crisis
Comptroller Sean Scanlon said Tuesday that CT can help address a special education funding crisis and still shrink its pension debt.
Posted inMoney
Citizens’ group pledges big ideas to reform CT property tax
The Citizens’ Assembly hoping to reform Connecticut’s property tax system teased big ideas and a robust political debate.
Posted inPolitics
Ryan Fazio claims Lamont ‘destroyed’ fiscal caps. But did he?
While Lamont has engaged in workarounds, he says the routine has led to savings, cut pension debt and offset federal cuts to vital services.
Posted inMoney
Union benefits package looms large over CT campaigns
The contract guaranteeing pensions and other benefits to CT state employees expires June 30, but few candidates are discussing its renewal.
Posted inMoney
Report: SNAP benefits vanishing faster than CT officials expected
Nearly 63,000 people in CT have lost federal nutrition benefits since last July — roughly double officials’ projections, a new report says.
Posted inEnergy & Environment
CT winter heating benefits tick up but still lag pre-pandemic levels
The number of fuel distributors participating in the Connecticut Energy Assistance Program is up, but some fear the number could shrink.
Posted inHealth
Many immigrants with legal status could lose Medicare coverage
Hundreds of lawfully present immigrants in CT could lose Medicare health coverage in January, and officials must decide whether to help.
Posted inPolitics
CT worker unions to test gubernatorial contenders on key issues
Union leaders are making an early push to frame negotiations over CT state employee retirement benefits with Gov. Ned Lamont and Ryan Fazio.
Posted inMoney
Lamont’s fiscal success rests on foundation laid by Malloy, others
Former Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and legislators who served with him ordered tax hikes that generated billions for CT during Ned Lamont’s tenure.
Posted inHuman Services
Nearly 18,900 CT children have lost SNAP benefits over past year
CT’s 15.7% rate of children losing SNAP benefits is worse than the 13% rate reported in a survey of 19 states where data was available.
Posted inImmigration
Lamont would tap emergency CT reserves to protect immigrants
Gov. Ned Lamont is proposing spending $5 million from a special state reserve to assist immigrants losing Temporary Protected Status.
Posted inHealth
Lamont pledges to extend ACA subsidies. His gubernatorial challengers are split
Ned Lamont and challenger Josh Elliott would continue ACA subsidies beyond 2027. Ryan Fazio wants to address high healthcare costs first.