After months of negotiation and hearing input from residents across our state, the Connecticut General Assembly's two houses (the House of Representatives and the Senate) approved the $24 billion state budget which provides historic tax relief for working families and makes vital investments in our municipalities, non-profits, child care providers, and more.
To help you understand exactly what is contained in this agreement and how it will support you and your family, I have put together the following summary for you.
Historic Tax Relief
Our budget plan CUTS YOUR TAXES by:
• Cuts state income taxes for retirees
• Lowers property taxes on homes and cars
• Extends tax cuts for workers in low-paying jobs (EITC)
• Extends the 25-cent gas tax cut until December
• Establishes a state child tax credit worth $250 per child
Supporting Workers and Manufacturing
Increases work opportunities for young adults
Expands the successful Manufacturing Pipeline program
Creates a new paid internship program at the state Department of Transportation
Focusing on Safety and Justice
Invests in Youth Service Bureaus and Juvenile Review Boards
Increases work opportunities for young adults
Funds state and local task forces to address gun violence and auto thefts
Establishes an office on gun violence prevention
Maintains our commitment to police accountability and our new clean slate laws
These programs work to address some of the underlying causes of crime, but our police and courts need more tools to hold offenders accountable for breaking the law and keep the public safe. We also passed legislation that:
Toughens penalties for vehicle thefts
Addresses lab and case backlogs
Expands the use of GPS monitoring in some cases
Provides more hands-on training and crisis training to police
Investing in Our Children
Increases funding for special education programs
Increases funding for infant and toddler care programs, as well as pay raises for childcare workers and money to modernize childcare facilities
New state tax credit for childcare
Boosts funding for bilingual education
Supporting Our Communities
Makes investments in community non-profits
Increases business development funding for minority-owned businesses
Provides support to museums, theaters and other attractions
Makes investments in access to affordable housing
With this budget approved and now signed by the Governor, and given the many other pieces of legislation we have passed so far this year to promote the financial, physical, and mental well-being of all Connecticut residents, I am optimistic that Connecticut's future remains bright and strong.