Why are there no solutions to Connecticut’s budget problems? As an instructor of business and economics I feel that I should grade the State of Connecticut on two serious issues so as our elected officials may be able to improve their job performance. In an election year it is critical that they do this so that they may get re-elected yet again (maybe some of them who have opposition will actually lose).
For lowering of one of the highest tax burdens in the country- F. You may have thought you saw some tax relief with the elimination of the property tax on vehicles but that was an illusion. If we cut that we might have seen some relief. But why cut taxes here in Connecticut? We all know that taxpayers have an unlimited source of funds to continue to pay the ever increasing burden that our state legislature puts us under. For businesses there is no relief at all. Besides coping with all the increases in input costs, workmen’s comp and energy, I am surprised any business at all can compete here in Connecticut.
Transportation issues- F. I guess most individuals who represent us do not travel on the state highway system. If they did they would come up with a realistic plan to improve the system or privatize the Transportation Department. Commuting in our state is a sickening experience. The roads are in lousy shape, construction projects have unlimited time and funds to be completed and in my opinion there is no accountability to what is going on. The time has come to either fix it or privatize it. What about an effective public transportation system to actually move commuters from one point to another? I guess it just can’t be done.
Change is desperately needed in our state. It will only come when reform our state legislature to being full time with full time pay, with term limitations of 8 years (4-2 year terms). We would force a different group of people to realistically come up with solutions to our states problems not a bunch of lawyers creating more laws to perpetuate their own existence. Connecticut needs a change and needs it fast if it is to survive in the future.
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Fiscal responsibility needs to begin now. The state treasurer is talking about a large surplus at the end of the fiscal year but cautions that rising energy prices and other factors could deplete it quickly. We need to re-examine our allocation on the monies and direct that towards transportation.
We need to seriously upgrade our whole infrastructure. We still operate under a 1950’s mentality. Connecticut’s mass transit system needs to be overhauled. More commuter buses, trains and flexible schedules. Today’s work environment has changed where there aren’t the core hours of a 9-5 work day anymore. You are now looking at something like 3AM to 9PM schedules. I would use mass transit, if it was more flexible.
Cut the property tax? That one-a-year pay out? How about our state income tax? That was enacted to get us out of debt, and it did. So why is it still around? If Connecticut wants to give us some serious relief, cut the income tax. You can increase the gas tax and sales tax to make up SOME of the difference. You would also be adding monies for the people who are traveling through the state. Throwing me a nickel when I really need a dollar doesn’t help.
Our legislators need a “100 level course” for managing the budget and spending.
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