The CT Mirror (https://ctmirror.org/tag/state-budget/)
State government’s surging retirement benefit costs are likely to have a big impact on programs and taxes over the next two decades. But they already have sapped significant funding from key priorities, including transportation, higher education, health care and social services. Second in a series. Continue Reading →
Democratic Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman may not have been elected in one of 36 districts of the Connecticut Senate, but she will effectively be the 37th state senator in the next legislative session. The Mirror sat down with Wyman to talk about her role. Continue Reading →
Connecticut is “poorly poised” to handle a moderate recession when compared to other states, according to a new analysis by Standard and Poor’s Global Ratings Tuesday. Continue Reading →
State funding to help cities and towns operate public schools is hit hard in the budget deal Democratic legislators are set to approve this week. It’s a mixed bag for the other grants towns receive to help cover non-education related expenses. Curious how your city or town fares? Here’s a look. Continue Reading →
Washington – One of Rep. John Boehner’s final acts as Speaker of the House this week was to negotiate a budget deal with the White House that will help Connecticut’s defense industry by boosting Pentagon spending and save the state government about $65 million in health care expenses for low-income residents and state retirees. Continue Reading →
The number of low-income, high-need students attending school in the suburbs is rising, putting new strains on local budgets. That’s why their municipal leaders are pressing the legislature to adjust the state’s system of aid to local schools. Continue Reading →
For almost a quarter of a century the state has depended on private nonprofit organizations to provide services to people with disabilities in Connecticut. This includes services to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, mental illness and addictions. For over two decades, the average increase to the contracts with these providers has been less than one percent per year. Continue Reading →
Connecticut state legislators should not forget about the students of the Connecticut State College and University system when apportioning state support. They have no $86 million dollar reserves to tap into — or $1.8 billion dollar state-funded initiatives to leverage. Continue Reading →
Connecticut’s Community Action Agencies, the state and federally designated antipoverty agencies covering every city and town in Connecticut, are dealing with a devastating cut in Gov. Dannel Malloy’s proposed FY 2016-2017 biennial budget. Continue Reading →
As the legislature begins its review of Gov. Dannel Malloy’s proposed budget, investment in environmental sustainability should be a top concern, and should be reflected in funds allocated to the Department Energy and Environmental Protection. Continue Reading →
Once again Gov. Dannel Malloy’s budget is targeting Connecticut’s nursing home residents — this time squeezing their personal needs allowance down to $50 a month, some $19 lower than it was in 2011. How can any nursing home resident maintain a decent quality of life on $50 a month? Continue Reading →
Potentially facing painful cuts in funding from the state, leaders of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities system on Thursday projected what it would take to close their deficits purely with tuition hikes or staff reductions. Most likely, some combination of both would be necessary, they said. Continue Reading →
Gov. Dannel Malloy’s upcoming budget proposal, and the General Assembly’s actions that follow, will either move us forward toward continuing to improve public education or act as an impediment to building upon the progress we’ve made in recent years. Continue Reading →
Much of Tom Foley’s last-minute proposal to cut taxes on Social Security benefits already is covered in existing state law. And the GOP gubernatorial nominee’s overall tax relief proposal on retirement benefits would expand Connecticut’s post-election deficit by roughly $100 million next fiscal year. Continue Reading →
Though Connecticut’s gubernatorial contenders spent more time this fall talking about tax cuts than state budget deficits, the red ink awaiting the winner of Tuesday’s contest is very real – and can’t be wiped away without tough choices. Continue Reading →