Brandon Chafee

Dear Neighbor,

Last Monday night, the House passed our state budget. The budget makes significant investments in early childcare, primary education, working families, seniors, and veterans.
 
Middletown secured $104.99 million in this budget, a $8.8 million increase in state aid over the next two years. This will hopefully blunt any increase in property tax on the town level. I was also able to secure several grants for local community organizations:

• $50,000 for the Russell Library for maintenance, expansion of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library which offers free books to children aged birth to 5, and the library’s door step delivery program for home bound individuals.
• $50,000 for the Middlesex YMCA for free programming for swimming, camp, and diabetes prevention.
• $25,000 for the Amazing Grace Food Pantry to help expand refrigeration and offer food for those in need.
• $10,000 for Oddfellows Playhouse Youth Theater for youth programming.
• $10,000 for Middletown Public Works
• $5,000 for the Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship Committee of Greater Middletown to help provide grants for college students.  

The budget will also provide an increase in EITC tax credit for qualifying families with children.
 
This budget delivers a lot for the people of Middletown, but admittedly it does not meet the need people currently face. As long as I am in this position, I will continue to work towards a more affordable Connecticut and a more equitable tax system in which working people see relief.