HARTFORD — The Connecticut State Legislature approved a budget earlier this month.
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The Valley Indy does not have enough staff to cover state politics. Conversely, the publications above don’t cover local politics. However, any prepared statements from the Valley’s legislative delegation sent to The Valley Indy are published below:
From state Sen. Jorge Cabrera:
HARTFORD – State Senator Jorge Cabrera (D‑Hamden) today joined in the bipartisan Senate passage of a two-year state budget that includes a historic middle-class personal income tax cut while simultaneously providing towns more money for local schools as well as funding much-needed state social service programs.
The $51.1 billion biennial state budget for July 2023-June 2025 passed the Senate on a bipartisan vote of 35 – 1. The new state budget includes a total of $612 million in personal income and pension tax cuts while providing $300 million more in state aid to local school districts and hundreds of millions more for nonprofits to pay their employees higher wages.
“Today we continued to provide relief to our state’s middle class and while also increasing aid to towns, cities and our schools and I am pleased to give this two-year budget my approval,” said Sen. Cabrera. “When I went door knocking last year, I heard my constituents loud and clear that more was needed to help them navigate inflation and other high costs. I strongly believe this budget, which includes historic tax cuts, offers a noticeable measure of relief for Connecticut’s middle class.“
The budget passed today includes the first personal income tax cut in Connecticut in nearly 30 years, and it’s focused on Connecticut’s broad middle class – those earning up to $80,000 a year – although all taxpayers will benefit to some extent.
The current 3% income tax rate on the first $10,000 earned by single filers and the $20,000 earned by couples will drop to 2%, and the 5% income tax rate imposed on the next $40,000 earned by singles and $80,000 earned by couples will drop to 4.5%. The income tax cuts are expected to save middle-class households $300 to $500 per year.
From state Rep. Mary Welander:
State Representative Mary Welander (D – Orange, Derby, Hamden, Woodbridge) applauds the house passage of the bipartisan budget proposal, which includes funding for four community organizations that provide vital resources in the 114th district.
- $100,000 to the Sterling Opera House in Derby to evaluate needed repairs and renovations
- $30,000 to TEAM, Inc for continued support of the entire region
- $25,000 for Orange Food2Kids to support the purchase and delivery of kid-friendly meals and snacks to families in need
- $5,000 to the Orange Historical Society for the cleaning and maintaining of historical graves in town
“This secured funding in the budget will ensure that our community’s selfless organizations can not only continue to serve those in need, but also provide a potential second life for an historic entertainment space for families to enjoy international renowned art, said Rep. Mary Welander. “Addressing food insecurity remains a top priority of mine because it is a challenge that continues to affect many families in our community, so I was proud to advocate for this funding that will assist Orange Food2Kids. I am excited to share that the Sterling Opera House in Derby will receive funding to evaluate overdue repairs because the vibrance of any community is based on the resources and activities we are able to provide residents. TEAM, Inc will receive funding to continue to provide vital services to the entire region, and the Orange Historical Society will be able to complete the painstaking work of cleaning and restoring historic gravestones, thereby preserving this history of our town. The $160,000 is a welcome victory for the 114th.”
The Sterling Opera House opened in 1889 and once hosted vaudeville legends, internationally renowned figures, and historical theatrical premieres. The building has fallen into disrepair and was abandoned in the 1960s. Orange Food2Kids is a volunteer-based charitable initiative working to fulfill its mission to feed school children who have little or no food resources when away from school.
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Photo credit: By jglazer75 — Connecticut State Capitol, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/…
