Kelly, Formica Statement on CT’s Annual Fiscal Accountability Report

Kelly, Formica: “We cannot put off addressing our budget issues and shortfalls.”

HARTFORD – Senate Republican Leader-elect Kevin Kelly (R-Stratford) and Senate Republican Leader-elect Pro Tempore Paul Formica (R-East Lyme) released the following statement in response to the Connecticut Fiscal Accountability Report issued today by the nonpartisan Office of Fiscal Analysis.

“Today’s report highlights Connecticut’s serious challenges that lie ahead even with the significant financial cushion in the state’s budget reserve fund that resulted from the Republican policies included in the 2017 budget.

“It’s alarming that so far this year Democrats have called for more borrowing, abandoning the ‘debt diet,’ and not doing anything on the state budget until April. Gov. Lamont has proposed a plan that relies almost exclusively on taking from the rainy day to plug budget holes. We are again calling on Gov. Lamont to bring all legislative leaders together to get to work now because every day of delay only moves us closer to a self-fulfilling prophesy of draining the rainy day fund and increasing taxes. We need to explore other tools and policies now to avoid that situation.

“We must face the pandemic head on and that includes prioritizing funding for core needs such as mental health care, substance abuse treatment, protection for seniors, education, job creation, and safety net supports. To best ensure that funding is properly prioritized for these needs, we cannot put off addressing our budget issues and shortfalls.”