Senator Somers, Senate Republicans Unveil Revised State Budget Proposal

HARTFORD, Conn. – This week State Senator Heather Somers (R-Groton), along with Senate Republican lawmakers released a revised line-by-line state budget proposal that does not rely on new taxes. The revised two-year budget addresses the dramatic revenue drop reported at the end of April which leaves our state with a budget shortfall of nearly $5 billion.

“I am proud to stand with my fellow Senate Republican legislators in support of this revised budget,” said Sen. Somers. “Our budget is a line-by-line proposal that doesn’t rely on tax increases and a budget that protects our towns and families. How many times are Democrats going to try and reach into the pockets of hard-working families and businesses? With this budget Senate Republicans are sending a message, and I am proud to support a message that says to communities – we value our education system, we value businesses and we value the future of Connecticut.”

The updated two-year Senate Republican proposal does the following:

• Closes the state budget deficit without tax increases
• Increases education funding by $170 million in the first two years and includes a new Education Cost Sharing formula
• Reformulates municipal funding and holds towns harmless in the first year to cuts to statutory grants
• Streamlines government
• Provides for structural changes
• Maintains the tax exempt status for hospitals to protect them from a new local hospital tax
• Preserves core government services by restoring funding for social services such as Meals on Wheels, mental health care and substance abuse treatment
• Prioritizes transportation needs and stabilizes funding without tolls or new taxes
• Lowers taxes for retirees and helps seniors age in place
• Enhances funding for state parks and tourism

A full summary of the updated “Confident Connecticut” budget is available here.

Line-by-line details available at www.ctsenrepublic.wpengine.com.