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Dear Friend,
This is my State Capitol update for the week of July 4.
Click the image below to view my video on this week’s events. |
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For a short week before the Fourth of July holiday, there’s a lot of government news with local, state, and federal impact. I’ve had questions from constituents about many of these topics in the last few days, and I discussed three of them in this week’s video: 1) how trash is being handled in many NW Corner towns, and how a last minute budget amendment helped us out; 2) how difficult it is to budget when you’re relying on incomplete information; and 3) some of the many ways the federal budget bill the Senate passed last night will hurt people and the economy more broadly in CT and beyond.
First, the trash talk. There have been articles in CT media recently (particularly one in the CT Mirror) about a small provision stuck into a budget amendment which will affect how we handle solid waste in the NW Corner. The back story is a little complicated, and a little messy, so bear with me. It all relates to the demise of the Materials Innovation and Recycling Authority (MIRA), whose waste-to-energy plant closed in July 2022, with the rest of its resources and properties finally transferred to other state entities earlier this week. One of those properties is the Torrington Transfer Station.
Seven of the nine towns that I represent (and a handful of others in the region) were part of MIRA and use the Torrington Transfer Station as a collection point for solid waste. These towns and the City of Torrington, with a lot of help from the Northwest Hills Council of Governments (NHCOG, a regional body comprised of 21 towns in the Northwest Corner) have been negotiating since late 2024 to create a regional public waste authority using the Torrington Transfer Station as a base. They were pretty close to a deal with MIRA in the first half of 2025, until a private hauler offered to purchase the transfer station from MIRA and upended the negotiations.
Now for the budget amendment. The relevant language transferred the permit to operate the Torrington Transfer Station to an organization formed by the City of Torrington and NHCOG for the purpose of handling municipal waste (otherwise known as the Northwest Resource Recovery Authority, or NRRA). Though the provision was dubbed a “rat” in the headlines, it was absolutely to the benefit of the municipalities working so hard to create a public authority, and to prevent one particular hauler from getting a stranglehold on the region.
The strange (and uncomfortable) thing about this transfer is that none of the regional legislators knew anything about it – we all called one another after learning about the language, trying to figure out who was responsible and quickly learned that none of us were. Subsequent reporting suggests that a different private hauler, who wanted to prevent their competitor from getting control of the market, seems to have been behind it.
I’m not comfortable with the process (and have a lot of questions for those involved), but it remains the case that this positively changed the dynamic for solid waste resources in the Northwest Corner and makes it possible to create and operate a regional public facility in Torrington that is not beholden to a single private hauler. A lot of work remains to be done as negotiations between NRRA and the Department of Administrative Services (or DAS, the executive branch agency that now owns the Torrington Transfer Station as of this week) continue, but I’m hopeful those conversations will be constructive, focused on good, sustainable public policy, and will yield results.
Second, about that $190 million in state revenue that showed up once the legislature left the building. The CT Mirror also had an article on this, which noted the not infrequent occurrence of the executive branch discovering a pocket of revenue once the budget is negotiated, passed, and signed into law.
To back up, we build our state budget on agreed-upon revenue projections. Three times a year, the legislative branch (via the Office of Fiscal Analysis, or OFA) and the executive branch (via the Office of Policy and Management, or OPM) share revenue projections, and agree on what we call “Consensus Revenue.” We use the Consensus Revenue estimates produced in late April to build our budget. Once we have those estimates, OFA uses them to draft spreadsheets which add up the costs of our various policy proposals, and determine what we can and cannot afford to do given the requirement to balance the budget and adhere to our fiscal constraints. In the Finance Committee, we fiddle with policies to make them fit into those projections, cutting back on some policies, increasing others. OFA creates a LOT of drafts of spreadsheets in those weeks (often multiple times a day), and we exchange them back and forth with OPM and the Governor’s office as we negotiate final terms.
Between late April and early June, when we typically pass the budget, those revenue projections can (and do) change. For that reason, the Finance Committee must meet to formally adopt a final updated revenue schedule a day or two before we pass the budget. Accuracy is critically important.
This year, rumors flew between April and June that there might be additional revenue available (as noted, this has happened repeatedly in the past), but nothing was disclosed before the deadline. In very particular policy terms, this meant that we in the Finance Committee were forced to whittle down a proposal for a Child Tax Credit into more modest relief for families, using the Earned Income Tax Credit instead, which reduced the cost of the proposal by about $50 million. I’m very proud we were able to provide that relief, which is targeted at working families who are struggling most mightily in CT, but it was hard to be forced to give up a broader Child Tax Credit. Had we known there was an additional $190 million to return to CT families, we would have had more options.
Trust is an important commodity in government, and I’m not one to ascribe bad motives when there are other potential explanations, but we will certainly be working on ways to improve the accuracy and timely disclosure of our revenue projections in future years.
Finally, a quick word or two about the federal budget bill. Earlier this week the US Senate passed the federal budget bill (which will now be reconciled with the House version), and while we are still figuring out the specific costs to CT, I wanted to note a few things about its potentially disastrous impact on us.
First, let’s talk about how the federal government measures the bill’s cost, and the difference between “static” and “dynamic” scoring. This is a frequent topic in state government as well, when we’re trying to figure out how much a policy will cost. In CT, we mostly use static scoring, which is the simple cost of implementing the policy. In the case of a corporate tax credit for research and development, for example, the “static” score is how much tax revenue the state will lose as a result of creating or expanding that credit. “Dynamic” scoring, on the other hand, tries to also capture the economic benefit of tax policy: we hope that credit for research and development will enable more innovation, creating more jobs, economic activity, and better products for CT residents, and those benefits add to the “dynamic” score.
Typically, then, “dynamic” scoring produces a lower cost because it includes those broader economic benefits. In the case of the federal budget bill, its proponents pushed to use dynamic scoring because they assumed it would reduce the cost of the bill. It did not, which is highly unusual. Because the bill increases the deficit by trillions of dollars, the Congressional Budget Office concluded it would drive up interest rates, which not only increases costs to the government, but to citizens in terms of mortgage costs and general inflation. The bill’s dynamic cost is even higher than its static cost.
The bill is also devastating for people who rely on Medicaid, with 11 million or more people expected to lose access to care. Many of the cuts proposed relate to work requirements. Encouraging work sounds good, but we know from the states that imposed these requirements in the past that they do not increase employment, they merely cut people from the rolls. It’s critical to remember that Medicaid benefits are healthcare benefits: anyone deprived of Medicaid benefits is being deprived of actual medical care, not of a check in the mail. Many of these people no longer covered by Medicaid will show up in emergency rooms of our hospitals, which must provided uncompensated care. These costs burden our hospitals and get passed on to those of us who have health insurance.
Over the next few months (and beyond) we in CT will be trying to put numbers on these costs and determine what we are able to address, but it will be painful.
Happy Fourth of July! I wish you all a long weekend filled with friends, family, and possibly a grill or two. There are lots of regional festivities of various kinds listed in the newsletter, including fireworks, so I hope to see a lot of us out there waving the flag. |
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Below is a list of events in our community:
Kent Bell Ringing
Join us as we ring in the 4th of July weekend at the Eric Sloane Museum. Learn about an American tradition of bell ringing, which is as old as the country itself, while visiting our large collection of early American art. Museum hours will be from 10:00-4:00. The museum grounds also offer a perfect place to enjoy an afternoon picnic in the Housatonic River Valley. This event will take place on July 5 from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm |
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Norfolk Chamber Music Festival: "Dialogues: Celebrating America"
Celebrate the spirit of Independence Day with “Dialogues: Celebrating America,” a vibrant concert honoring the rich tapestry of American music at the Norfolk Chamber Music Festival, Friday, July 4 at 8:00 p.m. in the Music Shed. This program captures the creativity, diversity, and enduring beauty of our nation’s musical heritage.
For more information and to purchase tickets, please click here.
Norfolk Nights on the Green: Food Truck and Yard Games
“Friday Nights on the Green” continues on Friday, July 4 at 6:00 p.m. on the Norfolk Village Green with an evening sponsored by the Norfolk Hub and featuring the music of Northwest Passage Band. There will be a food truck from The Taco Shack. One ticket per person will be provided for your order. Additional purchases can be made at the buyer’s expense. Yard games will be available for everyone to enjoy.
Warren Fireworks
The fireworks celebration will take place on Friday from 9:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. At 9:00 p.m., attendees are encouraged to Rim-the-Lake with flares. Flares are available at County Wine & Spirits, the Smithy at Nine Main, the Hopkins Inn. $5 suggested donation per flare. Limited first-come, first-served public parking will be available at the State Park.
New Milford
New Milford's Fourth of July fireworks celebration will start at 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, July 6, on the Town Green with music and the New Milford Woman’s Club’s annual town sheet cake. The fireworks will begin at 9:30 p.m.
Torrington
Torrington's fireworks will be held on Friday, July 11 from 4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. |
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Here’s a list of today’s topics:
- State Funding for Goshen. Click here.
- Environment Bill Signed into Law. Click here.
- Fallen Hero Fund Launched. Click here.
- New Law Prohibits Left Lane Camping. Click here.
- Open Application for Affordable Ownership Homes. Click here.
- Lead Hazard Reduction Grant Program. Click here.
- ICYMI - DOT Public Information Meeting in Goshen. Click here.
- ICYMI- Trees for Communities Grant Program. Click here.
- Northwest Corner Events. Click here.
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I am pleased to announce that Goshen was one of the eight communities that was awarded a state grant through the Transportation Rural Improvement Program (TRIP). Goshen will receive $1,500,000 for West Hyerdale Drive Bridge Rehabilitation over the Marshapaug River.
TRIP is a state grant program administered by the Connecticut Department of Transportation that provides support the state’s rural communities, which are often ineligible for many federal transportation programs.
Click here to learn more. |
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Governor Lamont signed major climate legislation into law on Tuesday, committing Connecticut to net-zero emissions by 2050, expanding clean energy incentives, and supporting green jobs. The law also strengthens climate resiliency and places restrictions on the use of rat poisons and a class of pesticides known as neonicotinoids.
I’m proud to stand with colleagues and advocates who fought for a cleaner, fairer future. This is a win for our environment, our economy, and our kids.
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| Connecticut stands united in honoring every fallen first responder. With the launch of the Fallen Hero Fund, we ensure their families receive the support and care they deserve. |
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New CT highway rule effective on July 1st clarifies that:
- Left lane = Passing only
- Lingering = Ticket
It’s straightforward and saves lives by cutting road rage and making our highways run smoothly. If you pass then move over, everyone gets where they’re going more safely.
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The Litchfield County Center for Housing Opportunity is still accepting pre-applications for five ownership homes, which will be built in the coming year (timeline subject to change). These include:
- 2 homes in Salisbury on Undermountain Road
- 1 home in Cornwall
- 1 home in Washington (deadline is July 24)
- 1 home in Norfolk
Click HERE to fill out a pre-application form, learn more about income limits, and watch a recorded info session about how to apply.
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The federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is now accepting Lead Hazard Reduction grants. The purpose of the Lead Hazard Reduction (LHR) Grant Program is to maximize the number of children under the age of six protected from lead poisoning by assisting states, cities, counties/parishes, Native American Tribes or other units of local government in undertaking comprehensive programs to identify and control lead-based paint hazards in eligible privately-owned rental or owner-occupied housing populations.
In addition, there is Healthy Homes Supplemental funding available that is intended to enhance the lead-based paint hazard control activities by comprehensively identifying and addressing other housing hazards that affect occupant health in homes with lead-based paint hazards being treated under the grant.
Applications must be submitted by August 14. Click here for more information. |
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CTDOT will conduct an in-person public informational meeting for the project will be held on Wednesday, July 30 at the Goshen Center School Gymnasium at 42 North Street in Goshen. An open forum for individual discussions with project staff will begin at 6:30 p.m., with a formal presentation following at 7:00 p.m. The proposed improvements will require two sliver property acquisitions that will be used for the construction of the new roadway geometry and sidewalk. Minor rights and easements may also be required and will be added as the design develops.
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The Trees for Communities Grant Program at the CT Department of Energy and Environment (DEEP) aims to address the uneven distribution of tree canopy across Connecticut by providing financial support for urban forestry projects in communities of need. Projects must increase tree cover or contribute to other urban forestry objectives, such as improvement of forest health or utilization of urban wood.
The maximum individual award is $200,000. The deadline to apply is August 31 at 5:00 PM.
Click here to learn more. |
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The Congregational Church of Salisbury will hold their second Public Conversation of Consequence on Sunday, July 20 from 4:30-6:00 pm. The topic will be “Who is my neighbor?”
The guest presenters include: Will Conklin, Executive Director of Greenagers; Jill Drew, Director of the Steering Committee for Vecinos Seguros 2; Peter Halle, President of the Salisbury Housing Committee; and Ellie Youngblood, Associate Director for Regional Food Access Partnerships at Sky High Farm. Each presenter will be invited to share their perspectives on seeing and supporting our rich mix of neighbors through the lens of their professional practice. Attendees are invited to listen thoughtfully, to interact with the guest presenters, and to engage at regular intervals with their fellow attendees.
Refreshments will be served following the structured program for those who wish to continue the conversations. |
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Steep Rock Association Centennial Benefit Concert on July 13
On Sunday, July 13 at 6:00 pm Steep Rock will host their Centennial Benefit Concert at Spring Hill Vineyards in Washington. This nature-inspired concert is presented as a collaboration between four beloved Washington nonprofits —Washington Friends of Music, Pilobolus, Spring Hill Vineyards, and Steep Rock Association.
100% of proceeds supports Steep Rock's mission to protect the land you love.
Doors open at 5:30 pm.
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| The 30th Annual Litchfield Jazz Festival will be held on July 25-27 at the Thomas Perakos Performing Arts Center in Washington, Connecticut. Click here to purchase tickets. |
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It is my honor to represent our district. I look forward to hearing from you about the issues raised in this newsletter, or any other topics you think I should know about. You can email me at maria.horn@cga.ct.gov or call me at (860)-240-8585. Thanks for reading, and I wish you a safe weekend.
Click here to forward to forward this email to a friend. |
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Sincerely,
Maria Horn
State Representative |
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