Jason Rojas

Connecticut's 2022 Sales Tax Free Week runs from Sunday, August 21 to Saturday, August 27. This is a great opportunity to take the kids back-to-school shopping or to treat yourself or your loved ones while saving money.

In March 2020, nurses, supermarket employees, home health aides, and many others kept going to work, putting themselves in danger of contracting COVID, to keep our community safe. Now, we are giving back. If you were a private-sector essential worker during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, you may be eligible for 'Hero Pay' through a state funded program. The Premium Pay Program, which officially launched this week, will provide up to $1,000 to workers who couldn't work from home.

It's been another hot week! Both East Hartford and Manchester are under a heat advisory through the remainder of today, August 5. Cooling centers are available at:

Time is almost out to apply for Connecticut's Child Tax Payments! The deadline to apply is this Sunday, July 31. Income eligible parents who had a child born before January 1, 2022 can receive a maximum payment of $250 per child up to 3 children. The tax payment is available to single parents who earned $100,000 or less and married households that made less than $200,000 during the 2021 tax year.

The summer's first heat wave is here. This week we've seen temperatures in Connecticut reach more than 90 degrees with a heat index of triple digits at times, which has prompted activation of state’s extreme hot weather protocol, effective through 8PM on Sunday, July 24.

The Connecticut Department of Labor has officially launched a revamped and modern online platform, ReEmployCT, to streamline services and facilitates unemployment and tax filing.

It's that time of year – by now, you should have received your tax bill from the town. Single and 1st installments are due now. The last day to pay taxes is August 1. After that date, you will be subject to an interest charge per month. In both Manchester and East Hartford, taxpayers may pay bills by mail, online, or via the drop boxes at Town Hall.

Happy 4th of July Weekend! In observance of the holiday, state and local offices in East Hartford and Manchester will be closed on Monday, July 4 and reopen for regularly scheduled hours of operation on Tuesday, July 5.