Senator McLachlan Calls Governor’s Budget Shell Game

State Senator Michael McLachlan (R-24) today said Governor Malloy’s proposed budget lays a trap for municipalities that will likely have to raise property taxes to deal with state cuts and new expenses.

“By requiring municipalities to make payments to the state Teachers’ Retirement Fund, I’m sure Governor Malloy is counting on angry taxpayers calling their local elected officials to complain about property tax increases,” Sen. McLachlan said. “It’s like a shell game. It is a state expense or a local expense? Either way, the taxpayers are the ones footing the bill. This way, the Governor gets to smile like a Cheshire cat and say he didn’t raise your taxes.”

As if the prospect of forcing municipalities to raise property taxes isn’t bad enough, Sen. McLachlan said the Governor has another parlor trick where he makes the $200 property tax credit disappear.

“This budget gets you coming and going,” he said. “Connecticut taxpayers just can’t get a break with this administration.”

Sen. McLachlan said the Governor’s budget also proposes a reduction in the Earned Income Tax Credit received by low-income workers, increases the taxes on cigarettes and alcohol and would increase the bottle deposit fee from 5-10 cents.

“Taxpayers get nickeled and dimed, pickpocketed, and generally run roughshod over by this budget,” he said. “Connecticut can and must do better.”

A proposal to allow municipalities to collect the property tax on hospital buildings, like the non-profit Danbury Hospital and it’s properties, is another bad idea, Sen. McLachlan said.

“The main theme of this budget seems to be finding more ways to generate tax revenue,” he said. “That is the exact opposite of what we should be doing.”

Sen. McLachlan said he will work with legislators on a responsible budget to reduce the burden on taxpayers, as well as grow the state’s economy, improve the business climate, and attract jobs.

Sen. McLachlan represents the communities of Bethel, Danbury, New Fairfield, and Sherman.