Have Your Say On The State Budget

By State Rep. Pam Staneski

This week Gov. Dannel P. Malloy released his proposed state budget adjustments, which includes new taxes, higher fees and more sweeps of state funds in order to balance the state budget.

I sit on the Appropriations Committee, and now we will be reviewing governor’s adjusted budget proposal over the next month. As a member of the Appropriations Committee, which is charged with writing the state budget in the legislature, I will be attending the public hearings on the governor’s budget. Input from the public, local leaders, state agency heads and other interested parties will help us craft a budget that will be forwarded to the full body for consideration.

I am hopeful that after listening to the people of the state the General Assembly will put forth a clear and positive state budget proposal that provides long-term sustainability and a path forward.

The governor’s proposal includes massive cuts to both Orange and Milford municipal and educational state grants. The money from these proposed cuts are to be redistributed to some of the worst financially-run cities in the state.

The Appropriations Committee will be having public hearings all week beginning Feb. 15. Please check here for its budget-hearing schedule.

I hope you will consider sharing your thoughts with the committee and me. Your voice matters. Here are some pointers on how to testify.

If you plan to attend any of the state budget public hearings, please submit 30 copies of written testimony at the time of sign-up, but not later than 2 p.m. on the day of the public hearing. Testimony received after the designated time may not be distributed until after the hearing.

If you cannot testify but wish to submit testimony, please email your written testimony in Microsoft Word or PDF format to APPtestimony@cga.ct.gov and copy my office’s email, Pam.Staneski@housegop.ct.gov, on the email.

The Appropriations Committee has a deadline of April 5 to report out a state budget.

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