CT has saved $9 billion since 2017, but some say the budget constraints need to be loosened as pressures hit families and workers.
Keith M. Phaneuf
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.
Posted inMoney
Over 154k CT private sector essential workers seek COVID bonuses
Soaring demand for the COVID bonuses for essential private-sector workers could cut them from a promoted $1,000 to $200 or less.
Posted inMoney
CT on pace for another multibillion-dollar budget surplus
Gov. Ned Lamont’s administration projects CT will be nearly $2.3 billion in the black this fiscal year but continued to urge caution.
Posted inPolitics
Bob Stefanowski unveils $2 billion tax relief plan for CT
GOP gubernatorial candidate Bob Stefanowski’s plan would tap into CT’s rainy day fund to extend fuel tax relief and ease tax burdens.
Posted inPolitics
CT gubernatorial campaigns struggle to be forthright on taxes
Bob Stefanowski says Gov. Ned Lamont “is a liar” about his record on cutting taxes, but some say Stefanowski wasn’t clear about his 2018 plan.
Posted inMoney
CT reserved $1,000 pandemic bonuses for 30,000 workers. At least 255,000 want them.
Demand for the Premium Pay Program far outweighs what the state budgeted, leading some lawmakers to call for increased funding.
Posted inMoney, Politics
Stefanowski pledges to remove hundreds of ‘nuisance taxes’
Bob Stefanowski said he won’t wait for the legislature to suspend what he calls “nuisance taxes” and will instead cancel them himself.
Posted inMoney
CT businesses spared from unemployment tax hikes, for now
CT businesses will be spared from unemployment tax hikes for now, but big challenges loom in coming years if debts aren’t paid.
Posted inMoney
CT essential worker bonuses should be fully funded, Scanlon says
CT Democrat comptroller candidate Sean Scanlon says $1,000 grants for essential private-sector workers shouldn’t be reduced.
Posted inMoney
CT to send $7M in back-to-school grants to low-income families
CT will pay for the grants, which will support about 27,000 children — or $257.87 per child — with federal pandemic aid.
Posted inMoney
Federal probe covers all aspects of CT Port Authority operations
In a March subpoena, the U.S. Department of Justice requested all records and correspondence covering all authority business since 2016.
Posted inMoney
Are CT tax cuts and COVID relief enough? Debate goes on
CT Democrats and GOP are battling over the effectiveness of CT tax cuts and COVID relief as some programs struggle to get money to families.
Posted inMoney
CT essential worker bonuses could be reduced as demand grows
Pandemic bonuses for CT private-sector essential workers will likely be reduced as surging demand tests the program’s budget.
Posted inMoney
High demand for CT pandemic bonus program crashed website
The number of applications for pandemic bonuses for CT private-sector workers in the first days of the program crashed the program’s website.
Posted inPolitics
Erick Russell wins three-way Democratic primary for CT treasurer
Erick Russell, a partner at a law firm who specializes in public and private financing, is Connecticut Democrats’ nominee for treasurer.