Sen. Witkos Applauds Senate Passage of Bipartisan State Budget

Hartford – Early this morning the state Senate passed a bipartisan budget to close a projected $3.5 billion deficit over the next two years and eliminate the need for the governor’s devastating executive order. Deputy Senate Republican President Pro Tempore Kevin Witkos (R-Canton)participated in bipartisan negotiations to craft the budget that includes policies from both Democrats and Republicans and voted in support of the budget.

“Today Republicans and Democrats came together in a historic vote to pass a bipartisan budget in the state Senate. This compromise budget restores millions of dollars to our towns and cities, our schools, and to core state services. At the same time  reduces future spending by implementing a spending cap and bonding cap among other structural changes.  While we cannot resolve all the state’s financial problems in one budget, this compromise plan implements many long-fought-for structural reforms that will set Connecticut on a new path to begin to stabilize government so that our economy can grow and flourish. I applaud all legislative leaders for working together to craft this budget and stop Gov. Malloy’s executive order,” said Senator Witkos.

The bipartisan budget includes:

• A cap on state spending
• A cap on state bonding to reduce debt
• A hiring freeze
• Phases out the tax on social security income and pension income
• Restores millions of dollars in local education funding  and municipal aid and implements a new education funding formula
• Municipal mandate relief to help towns and cities reduce costs and benefit local property taxpayers
• Does not shift teacher pension costs onto towns and cities
• No increase to the sales tax or income tax
• No cell phone tax
• No second home tax
• Protects funding for day services and employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities
• Protects funding for mental health and substance abuse treatment to fight the opioid epidemic
• Protects funding for child care for low income families
• Protects services for seniors including the CT Home Care Program, Meals on Wheels and non ADA dial a ride
• Includes targeted spending cuts including cuts to the legislature and reduces the number of legislative committees

“It’s clear that there was not enough support to override the governor’s veto of the budget Republicans and moderate Democrats passed last month. Therefore, without this compromise budget today, the governor’s executive order would remain in effect, zeroing out education funding to Avon, Barkhamstead, Canton, Colebrook, Granby, Harwinton, New Hartford, Norfolk and Simsbury and drastically cutting it to Torrington and Hartland. Almost $20 million would be cut from Torrington alone under the executive order and almost all towns in the state would see a dramatic drop in municipal aid. By passing this bipartisan budget today we are stopping that devastation from destroying our towns and their credit ratings and saving residents from painful property tax increases and cuts to schools,” said Witkos.

Deputy Senate Republican President Pro Tempore Kevin Witkos represents the 8th District communities of Avon, Barkhamsted, Canton, Colebrook, Granby, Hartland, Harwinton, New Hartford, Norfolk, Simsbury and Torrington. For more information visit www.senatorwitkos.com.