Gov. Ned Lamont’s spending plan maintains a $95 million increase for K-12 schools that lawmakers began this 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.
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Lamont challenges legislators to reform ‘earmarks’
Lamont proposed trimming earmarks in all but three areas, and increasing transparency, amid a probe into the Blue Hills Civic Association.
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Lamont to unveil $28.7 billion CT budget to lawmakers
Gov. Ned Lamont will propose a $28.7 billion budget that features a $200-per-person tax rebate and preserves modest funding for K-12 schools.
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Tax cuts rank high on CT legislative agenda for 2026
Tax-cutting proposals and gubernatorial election years traditionally go hand in hand in CT, and 2026, so far, has been no exception.
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Lamont to propose $200-per-person CT tax rebate
The $500 million rebate technically would be paid out of CT’s sales tax receipts and would not force deep cuts to the state budget.
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CT still finding its response to federal cuts to human services
Connecticut can afford to replace more of those vanishing federal dollars than most other states can. The question is where to draw the line.
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Lamont, lawmakers to extend CT fund to counter federal cutbacks
CT still has $330 million to supplement programs affected by Washington’s cuts to human services. The money will be available until July.
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Susan Keane, champion of open budgeting in CT, calls it a career
Keane, the recently retired senior administrator of the Appropriations Committee, leaves a legacy as a fierce advocate for public access.
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CT child tax credit advocates say passage is crucial in 2026
Advocates for a CT child tax credit say federal cuts to human service programs and tariff-driven inflation now make relief critical.
Posted inHealth
CT official: $115M in health care subsidies coming, despite delays
Prices quoted by CT’s health exchange don’t reflect $70 million in pledged assistance yet — and might not until late March.
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Spending cap will allow most CT budget growth in a decade
It remains unclear whether a 5.93% increase in spending will cover growing needs in core programs — or offset vanishing federal aid.
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Lamont reaches first wage deal with CT union since April
The four-year agreement with Local 511 of Connecticut Employees Union Independent endorses 2.5% raises through 2028 and calls for step hikes.
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Advocates: Federal cutbacks could cost CT nearly $1 billion
Connecticut Voices for Children projects the impending financial hit at nearly $1 billion, more than double the $500 million emergency fund.
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CT partnership insurance plan lost $23 million last fiscal year
The health plan for municipal and other public-sector workers outside CT government paid more in claims than it received in premiums in FY25.
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Scanlon: CT must solve its Medicaid problem now
Surging Medicaid costs and dramatically shrinking federal aid are a recipe for fiscal crisis, CT Comptroller Sean Scanlon warned Monday.