Connecticut Republicans Seek to Move State Budget Process Forward
March 8, 2017Hartford – Senate Republican President Pro Tempore Len Fasano (R-North Haven) and House Republican Leader Themis Klarides (R-Derby) are calling for the legislature to adopt a more aggressive schedule in which to craft a state budget this year. In a letter sent to Democrat legislative leaders, the Republican leaders are asking to set a shared legislative goal to complete a state budget and hold a vote by May 5, 2017.
By working with a target date, Republicans are aiming to provide towns and cities with the information they need to create their own municipal budgets. The Republican call for urgency comes after Democrats proposed asking 169 towns to push out their local budget deadlines to accommodate state budget uncertainties as a result of Gov. Malloy’s deep municipal cut proposal.
“Instead of working on delaying local budgets, we would like to focus our efforts on moving forward with the state budget,” Sen. Fasano and Rep. Klarides wrote to Democrat legislative leaders. “We are proposing to set an aggressive timeframe for the Appropriations Committee and the Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee with the goal of voting on a budget by May 5, 2017 in the Senate and House of Representatives, allowing us time to digest the work of the legislative committees and take into account consensus revenue projections.”
In their letter, the Republican leaders explained the unique situation facing towns.
“The reason our towns are in such a difficult situation this year is that for the first time the governor’s budget is a complete nonstarter for both Republicans and Democrats. The only budget document towns and cities can rely on today is an unrealistic budget that even the governor knows will never be passed. It’s up to lawmakers to offer a real budget for our state,” they wrote.
“Instead of spending time figuring out how to delay local budget processes in 169 towns, we want to dedicate the next eight weeks fully to crafting a budget together that restores confidence in the legislature to lead our state and pursue budget policies that will provide stability and predictability today and for future generations.”