Republicans Offer a No-Tax Increase Budget

April 19, 2011
Senator Len Fasano listening to Republican Minority Leader Senator John McKinney as the GOP budget plan is unveiled at the Capitol in Hartford

Senator Len Fasano listening to Republican Minority Leader Senator John McKinney as the GOP budget plan is unveiled at the Capitol in Hartford

The right path to a sustainable future

Hartford, CT – Senator Len Fasano (R-34) along with Republican Legislative Leaders ” target = “_blank”>unveiled a no-tax increase balanced budget proposal for Fiscal Years 2012 and 2013.

Alternative Budget Presentation“Our budget is a direct response to people demanding we shrink government and control expenses,” said Senator Len Fasano. “The proposal we unveiled will not tax families who are already trying to survive in a difficult economic environment. We owe the people of Connecticut an alternative to tax increases, and that is what this proposal does.”

By focusing on core government functions, eliminating waste and creating efficiencies, the Republican Alternative Budget significantly reduces the size and cost of government while protecting the social safety net and preserving state aid to municipalities.

“The Republican Alternative Budget is a blueprint for ending Connecticut’s current fiscal crisis and helping to prevent a future crisis,” said Senate Republican Leader John McKinney (R-Fairfield).

Highlights of the Republican Alternative Budget include:

  • No new taxes on any business, individual, employer, service or good.
  • More than $1.5 billion in spending cuts from Gov. Malloy’s plan.
  • Preservation of municipal aid at current levels for all towns and cities.
  • Enhanced Medicaid fraud detection to save an estimated $224 million.
  • More than $46 million in savings through agency consolidations.
  • Streamlining government through attrition and reductions to the 54,000 member state workforce.
  • No borrowing for state operating expenses.
  • Full restoration of the $500 property tax credit cut by Gov. Malloy.
  • The pre-payment of $200 million in the state’s highest cost debt, allowing greater flexibility in budgeting throughout state agencies.
  • Restoration of the sales tax free week to help Connecticut consumers support household budgets.
  • Elimination of longevity payments for state employees.

Senator Fasano has held many town hall meetings on the state budget crisis and one reoccurring theme from folks in the community is ‘all we ask for is fairness.’ To that end Senator Fasano says, “Getting rid of longevity bonuses is a start. This is a generous perk the state can no longer afford.”

The nonpartisan Office of Fiscal Analysis estimates these twice-a-year bonuses for thousands of state employees who are simply on the job, will cost the state’s General and Special Transportation Fund $34.5 million in each of the next two fiscal years.

Connecticut state employees begin receiving longevity payments upon reaching 10 years of state service and will see an increase after reaching 15, 20, and 25 years of service. These bonuses are provided in addition to cost of living adjustments and are based solely on a person’s years of service not job performance.

Downsizing government is also a key part of this proposal. Of the proposed reductions in state-funded positions, 1,250 would be targeted toward management. The Bipartisan Commission on Enhanced Agency Outcomes recommended that Connecticut cut in half the number of managers to come in line with the private sector. Senator Len Fasano believes making government smaller may not be easy, but it is the right thing to do.

“In this budget we were forced to make very tough decisions, but I believe residents have also been forced to make very tough decisions in their own household budgets and will understand this is the right path to a sustainable future,” remarked Senator Fasano.

Read Alternative Budget line-by-line >>
Complete presentation of Alternative Budget >>

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