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It's About Substance!
How to cut $2 billion from Connecticut State budget?  That how!

SPENDING CUTS – THE SUBSTANCE!

1.       We reset all state spending programs back to 2007 levels. We roll back the clock on recent increases in spending, which tend to be about 5-10% for most programs in the last three years.

2.       We shift a significant amount of our social services from state agencies to not-for-profit community providers, who can provide the same quality of services for 40-50% less, such as

            Group homes – not government,

            Social services –consolidated 

            Outsource State Park Maintenance.

            Outsource  DMV licensing and registration
            services.

•         Further Outsourcing

»     No more state fleet purchases – go to fleet rentals

»     Sale of Excess State Property

»     Sale of Regional Airports

»     Sale of CHFA mortgage assets 

3.       We combine 23 state agencies into 6 agencies, eliminating duplicated back-office services. 

•    DOL CII, CDA and CHFA are rolled into DECD

•    DPH, DCF, DDS, DMHAS, DSS are rolled into Dept. of Human Services

•    Rolling all permanent and minority-based commissions into one

•    Merge Public Works and DMV into DOT and DAS

•    Merge the Dept. Emergency Management & Homeland Security into DPS

•    Transfer Banking and Insurance Departments to the General Fund 

4.       We combine our various community colleges and state colleges—centralizing functions like purchasing, admissions, and human resources. 

5.       A $75 million tax amnesty program;

6.       $70 million in state asset sales such as unused property

7.       Additional securitization of state assets for $125 million

8.       $50 million in additional debt collection for individuals and companies that owe the state fees and fines;

9.       $10 million for cell towers on state buildings.

10. Delay implementation of the in-school suspension of students that will require millions of dollars to hire additional certified personnel and identify dedicated space;

11. Delay implementation of policies that raises the age of juvenile offenders from 17, a program that will cost towns and police department $95 million in personnel and constructions costs;

12. Delay the requirement that towns and cities post meeting agendas and minutes on the web;

13. Requiring a two-thirds majority vote by the legislature to pass any more mandates;

14. Adding “services’’ to the list of purchasing contracts that DAS can enter into for municipalities

15. Allowing municipalities to apt out of state educational mandates if receive less than 20% of their educational budget.

16. Early retirement to save more than $285 million;

17. State worker concessions for salary, health care and pension benefits that save $662 million; Such as:

      18 Month wage freeze

      Hard hiring freeze

      Require 6 furlough days per employee, per year

      Raise state employees’ medical co-pays

•   Create new tier for future state employees. 

TAX CUTS!  THE SUBSTANCE!

1.  Eliminate 
     The 30% surcharge on job-creating businesses 
     Car property tax
      Tax business entity tax
      Taxes on pensions 

2.  RESTORE:

1. $25 million in municipal aid cut by Democrats and the $500 property tax credit for families earning as little as $46,000;
2.  The tax exemption on textbooks, car seats, and bike helmets that the Democrats cut.
3. The tax exemption on “green” energy and “green” vehicles that the Democrats cut.
4. The tax exemption on agricultural products that the Democrats cut.
5. The tax exemption for non-profits, charitable hospitals, nursing homes and residential care homes that the Democrats cut.

AND LEAVE WELL ENOUGH ALONE!  THE SUBSTANCE!
Preserve municipal aid
Maintain state education funding to towns and cities at current levels. 

Approved by Nitzy Cohen
Paid for by "Nitzy Cohen 2010. It's About Substance" Erik Fitzgerald, Treasurer