The so called state employee “concessions” are a joke the numbers just don’t add up. Cut Spending reduce the size of the state goverment. IF there is 10% unemployment in the private sector there needs to be the same in goverment.
Jasper J., East Hartford
Connecticut residents have sacrificed enough!!! We have been one of the highest taxed states in the nation as long as I can remember. Privatize most state services and dismantle state employee unions.
Kim, Meriden
Whoa, Nellie! More Taxes for CT residents is not the answer. Does anyone in Government care that there are hundreds of state residents who are currently unemployed or underemployed and standing in soup kichen lines for the first time in their lives? Let’s increase taxes and see if we can put a few more people in the soup kitchen and food pantry line!
State residents have always paid their fair share. To balance the budget on the backs of the taxpayers is adding insult to injury. Who made the decisions in the first place that put our state in such a sad statet? Was it the tax payers…or the decision makers?
How about eliminating or reducing the number of state owned and operated vehicles thereby eliminating auto insurance, maintenance fees, and bringing in some income by selling off the fleet? Pay out mileage reimbursement for the use of personal vehicles like hundreds of agencies large and small. How about setting up a fund to take $5 from every income tax return to help reduce the deficit? People would prefer to give $5 rather than be taxed to death. Government leaders need think and be creative in generating solutions. Increasing taxes is the lazy man’s way out.
Someone should form citizen task forces to investigate state practices and brainstorm ideas for potential savings….and make sure the common man is included in such brainstorming activity. Government should try asking the people, for once, for something other than money. The Governor might be surprised with what we, the people, can contribute.
Joe Brennan, CBIA
John M. from Torrington asks what ideas CBIA and its members are promoting to boost the economy other than cutting state workers. Here’s our agenda for the year, and it doesn’t say anything about cutting government workers. It does talk about reducing spending and improving efficiency in delivering vital services. It also talks about bringing public sector wages and benefits in line with the private sector, because as Gov. Malloy recently said, the current system is not sustainable. Connecticut businesses are struggling to be competitive and grow here; higher costs and a bloated bureaucracy just make it more difficult for them to create new jobs.
John M., Torrington
Taxes will have to be raised and should be raised on the wealthy. State workers’ contracts should continue to be honored; pensions should be honored. I would like to know what new and exciting ideas have members of CIB come up with besides cutting state workers to boost the economy. How have members of CIB boosted the economy and hired people in CT. In the 1980s unions were strong and most americans had pensions. Now unions are not as strong, but they are some of the few with pensions. Looks like more Americans need unions again.
Richard B., Manchester
The state has over 50,000 people who work and get state salaries. The STATE HAS NOT LAID OFF ANYONE . The private sector has had to balance theie wokers with the work load. How is it possible the state can keep a payroll with over 50,000 people with great benefits and retirement with out going bankrupt?
They can’t. They have to reduce the benefits and work force and be more productive so they can reduce taxes.
However, I know the state will never reduce taxes but I’m not sure how much more taxes I can pay before I decide to move.
Joe P., New Haven
How about an actual progressive tax structure? Why should everyone making over 10k per year be taxed at the same percentage? This would help to lower the massive wealth inequality in the state.
As a new resident attending graduate school in CT I can say that when finished I will not be staying. Property costs are ridiculous, taxes are high, there is a lack of jobs, to get anything done there is a massive bureaucracy (lessen this and cut the number of state workers), and for goodness sakes it’s not 1662 start selling liquor on Sundays.
Tyanna B., Bristol
I like living in Connecticut but it is very expensive living here, and I have a problem with the taxes. They are very high and I have been kind of thinking of moving out because they are so high. I understand what people are going through and it is tough. It’s hard to get a job and it’s hard to keep a job in Connecticut too with all the layoffs that have been going on.
Kate S. and Joe D., Bristol
We both work full time, entry-level jobs. We don’t make a lot yet, but they take out so much from our paychecks. I mean, I almost have nothing at the end of the week after taxes come out. They take out too much and they are not spending it in the right ways. And they are definitely wasteful.
Michael P., East Hartford
I think education is really the solution to most of the problems in the economy because if you have an empowered, educated public, then you have people who will become entrepreneurs or people who are moving to the high demand professions.
