Updates from State Rep. Chris Poulos - July 21, 2023

July 21, 2023
My colleagues and I delivered on our promise to lower taxes, and according to a report from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, Connecticut is a leader on tax relief by providing nearly $500 million in relief for individuals and families.
 
Below are some of the highlights of tax relief we passed this year:
  • Lowering the income tax rates to save many middle-class households $300-$500 a year
  • Raising the state income tax credit from 30.5% to 40% of the federal Earned Income Tax Credit - providing $210 on average for households earning less than $60,000 per year
  • Expanding an existing exemption for certain pension and annuity earnings, providing additional financial security for retirees and those close to retirement
Click Here to Read More About Tax Relief in CT

By targeting tax relief toward the middle class, we can continue Connecticut's economic growth.

Please continue reading below for other noteworthy items, and thanks for taking the time to read them! 

 
Kindergarten Starting Age

Starting with the 2024-25 school year, there will be a charge to the starting age for kindergarten thanks to laws passed during the 2023 Legislative Session.

Provisions in PA 23-159 and PA 23-208 include:

  • Moves the date by which a child needs to turn five years old to enroll in kindergarten from January 1 back to September 1
  • Shifts the responsibility of accepting/denying a child who is not yet five years old from the board of education to the local school’s administration. Parents can submit a written request to enroll a child early
  • For any request for early enrollment, requires an assessment of the child by the principal and an appropriate certified staff member

If you have any additional questions about these changes, please do not hesitate to reach out to my office.

 
Learning Experience

Truly appreciate the recent profile from my alma mater — The Jepson School of Leadership Studies at the University of Richmond — on "Bridging the gap between teachers and policymakers." 

My love of education paved my way into politics, which I share in this piece began from the time I started teaching, has continued into my first term in the House of Representatives, and will persist as I keep an eye on the 2024 Legislative Session and beyond.