Eleni Kavros DeGraw

We Passed A Good Budget, A Nod To Pride Month, Beating The Heat

As we approach the end of our 2021 Regular Legislative Session, I am proud of the work we accomplished even with the challenges of the pandemic. I am even more proud that you and I had an ongoing dialogue that began last year.
 
I am grateful for your input, participation and recommendations throughout the last few months as we worked together on issues and priorities that you care about and that I adopted as my own. Your survey responses, emails, letters, postcards, and telephone calls informed my votes, and while we may not agree on everything, I appreciated your willingness to continue to engage.
 
Late last night, we passed the $46.4 billion biennium budget with a $2.3 billion surplus. The budget offers relief from the ravages of COVID-19, helps jumpstart our economy, and invests in our cities and towns, nonprofits and working families.

We also kept our commitment to funding local schools – ensuring we give towns predictability by honoring our formula for state grants, and ensuring no town receives less than it got the year before.

Our 2022-2023 Biennium budget:

• Rejects tax hikes on gasoline, insurance policies and large Connecticut home properties
• Includes tax relief for restaurants and allows certain businesses to keep 1.36% of the 7.35% sales tax they collect on sales of meals and beverages for FY 22
• Increases the state's earned income tax credit to 30.5% of the federal credit
• Eliminates the admissions tax as of July 1, 2021
• Increases town aid and fairly funds Education Cost Sharing (ECS)
• Expands healthcare for 40,000 residents and families
• Expands workforce training so that we can get people back to work
• Fully funds debt-free community college
• Includes relief for arts, culture and tourism
• Maintains our historic balance in the state's $3.5 billion Rainy-Day Fund
• Supports small businesses and minority-owned businesses

I was also able to get my bill to phase out personal income tax on Individual Retirement Accounts into the budget which will help seniors stay in Connecticut.

In addition, we listened to many of you and provided increased funding for hospitals and local health departments in response to COVID-19. We included additional resources to those on the frontlines of the pandemic including nursing homes, prisons, schools and nonprofit providers. We are also delivering the necessary tools for state agencies to safely reopen and serve our residents.

As we recover emotionally and financially from the pandemic, adopt a balanced state budget, and move forward with a wide variety of accomplishments this session, I am optimistic that Connecticut is coming back stronger than ever before.

CANTON SHOPS FOR THE PUPPY PRIDE PARADE JUNE 12, AVON PRIDE FAMILY PICNIC JUNE 13TH

All month long we celebrate our LGBTQIA community and I’m grateful that this year, we will have events in Canton and Avon. I hope you’ll join in on the fun on 6/12 at the Canton Dog Park with a walk to the Canton Shops for the Puppy Pride Parade (details coming soon) and for the picnic that I’ve been envisioning for a while at the Avon Congregational Church on 6/13 from 12 - 2 pm.

The Avon Family Pride Picnic will take place at the Avon Congregational Church at 6 West Main Street beginning at noon.

Please click the image for more details about each event

Broad community support is critical, not just for events, but for the LBGTQIA community, especially for teens who may have just come out or are planning to. Though last month was Mental Health Awareness month, I want to call attention to the statistic that just one trusted, supportive adult can reduce a gay teen’s suicide risk by 40%. Consider ways you can be that adult and helps us save lives.

This past Monday, Avon raised the Pride Flag at the Avon Free Public Library for the very first time. It was a great way to kick off Pride month. With two events in district this weekend, I hope to see you soon.

BEATING THE HEAT

It sure has been a hot week here in CT! Here are some safety tips to keep in mind now and in the future.

Please don't forget your pets in the heat - especially in cars - as they can overheat quickly.