Republicans Stand Against Dangerous Financial Storm

Tropical storms are not the only disasters that should concern state taxpayers. Right now, a Category 5 financial hurricane is swirling around Connecticut, and the eye is in Hartford. The latest Democrat budget proposal promises a storm surge with historic new taxes, a new statewide property tax on second homes (in addition to your local property tax), a new cell phone tax and . . . yes, folks, tolls. Even though toll proposals were soundly defeated on June 7th, Democrats are trying a new, backdoor measure to bypass the legislature.

Remember, if we enact tolls, this would be on top of the highest gas tax in the country – which includes an 8.1 percentage base tax – car property taxes, pension and social security taxes, an inheritance tax, gift tax, and income tax with virtually no deductions. These are all taxes that many states with tolls do not have. Tolls represent a direct pay cut to each commuter’s paycheck every week!

But, wait; there is more, much more– like $40 million bailout for the City of Hartford, $115 million to renovate an entertainment arena, and worse- billing our towns for the teachers’ pension payment that the state has been responsible for paying since 1970. This strongly opposed shift in costs from the state to municipalities virtually guarantees local property tax increases if passed.

My Republican colleagues and I have hoisted the hurricane warning flags. We will stand against this destructive storm. We will vote “No” and do our best to turn the tide.

State Senator Toni Boucher (R-26) represents the communities of Bethel, New Canaan, Redding, Ridgefield, Weston, Westport, and Wilton.