Old Farms Road Phase II Public Input, Info Session Tonight, Tax Relief Measures 2024

January 3, 2024


 
View this email in your browser
Dear Neighbor, 

As you may have heard today, multiple state capitol complexes in the U.S. were the target of bomb threats. While thankfully unusual, this kind of threat obviously requires lockdown and evacuation and we are truly grateful for the efforts of our Capitol police to keep us safe every day. This kind of threat is a felony and once the perpetrator is caught, they will face federal jail time.

Thankfully, the threat appears to have been fake.
 
Session 2024 is a “short” session for the Connecticut General Assembly, we aren’t in the building every day. We will have opening day next month on February 7th. While we have three very short months to get our work for this session accomplished, I am really looking forward to the many good pieces of legislation we will ultimately pass.
 
Avon residents, I want to call to your attention to a public information session this evening regarding the Avon Old Farms Road Project. As the town did with the first phase, this session will provide information on the second phase of the project. Phase one has been moving along the last couple of months as I am sure you’ve seen.
 
You’ll also see a lot of tax reduction information as well since many of those measures we passed recently went into effect on January 1st.

I’m especially proud of the IRA reductions as that was the first piece of legislation I passed in 2021.
 
I wish you all a happy and healthy 2024!

Eleni
 
Old Farms Road Phase II Public Input, Info Session

Tonight
Have thoughts or questions about the Old Farms Road Phase II East/West Section? Check out the public input and information session in the Community Room at the Avon Free Public Library tonight at 7 p.m. 
 
Tax Relief Measures for 2024

As a result of fiscal responsibility and bipartisanship in 2023, I am pleased to announce that significant relief is on the way for many Connecticut taxpayers in 2024!

Three tax relief measures went into effect on January 1, including the largest income tax cut in state history, an increase in a tax credit aimed at the lowest-income workers, and an expansion of exemptions on certain pension and annuity earnings that will benefit the senior population.

Here's a closer look at the tax cuts, who specifically benefits, and how:

One million filers to benefit from income tax cuts:

The changes enacted in 2024 will see a decrease in the two lowest rates:

  • The 3% rate on the first $10,000 earned by single filers and the first $20,000 by joint filers will drop to 2%.
  • The 5% rate on the next $40,000 earned by single filers and the next $80,000 by joint filers will drop to 4.5%.

The relief targets middle-class tax filers and is capped at $150,000 for single filers and $300,000 for joint filers. This is the first time that rates have been reduced in the state since the mid-1990s and it represents the largest income tax cut enacted in state history.
For more information, single filers click here. For joint filers, click here.
 
Connecticut’s Earned Income Tax Credit for low-income workers becomes one of the largest in the U.S.

The EITC in Connecticut is increasing from 30.5% to 40% of the federal EITC and will provide an additional $44.6 million in state tax credits to the approximately 211,000 low-income filers who receive the credit. More than 95 percent of filers who receive this credit are families with children.

The Connecticut EITC is a refundable state income tax credit for the lowest income working individuals and families that mirrors the federal EITC.
 
Expanding certain deductions for IRA distributions and pension and annuity earnings for seniors

The state budget eliminates the retirement income tax cliff by adding a phase-out for allowable pension annuity and IRA distribution deductions against the personal income tax.

Approximately 200,000 filers benefit from the currently enacted retiree exemption limits. It is estimated that with these changes, an additional 100,000 filers could benefit from the elimination of the retirement cliff via the exemption phase-out.
I would like to thank all my colleagues for working diligently during the 2023 legislative session to help provide this tax relief for many of our hardest-working state residents. The three measures will reduce tax burdens on CT taxpayers by $460 million!
 
Bottle Bill Changes Take Effect
I wanted to remind you that with the passage of Public Act 21-58, An Act Concerning Solid Waste Management, Connecticut has undergone the most significant transformation of its beverage container redemption program – also known as the Bottle Bill – since the program was first implemented in 1980. The most significant changes in Public Act 21-58 included 1) an increase in the handling fee paid to retailers and operators of redemption centers; 2) an expansion of the types of beverages covered to include several new item categories – including sports drinks, energy drinks, and juices – beginning on January 1, 2023; and 3) an increase in the deposit amount from $0.05 to $0.10 which began on January 1, 2024.
 
 
Canton Arts Council Art Show Reception Thursday Jan.11
You're invited to meet the artists and see the Canton Arts Council exhibit of arts and crafts on Thursday, January 11th at 6:30 p.m.

Refreshments will be served. 

This art show will be on display throughout January and February!
Thank You Dish 'n Dat
 
Thank you to Canton’s DISH ‘n Dat American Eatery for their annual Christmas meal for Farmington Valley neighbors. This year, they were able to feed 575 hot meals including over 700 desserts. They also distributed more than 1500 toys to children and handed out more than 400 gift cards for teens and adults to/from local businesses. In addition, they distributed almost 1200 non-perishable food items.
 
Their many partners in this effort include the Avon and Canton Rotary, Shop Rite of Canton, Avon Unico, Jules Poirier Co., Canton’s Volunteer Fire Department, Cake Gypsy, and many more businesses and individuals.
 
Special shout out to the owner, Danny Keller, for never turning away anyone and for spearheading this effort year after year. You are a true community hero! Thank you to the more than 40 volunteers who helped make this happen.

Sincerely,

Eleni Kavros DeGraw
State Representative
Website
Website
Email
Email
Facebook
Facebook

Forward to a friend | Unsubscribe from this list | Update subscription preferences