CT’s Back-to-School Must Have: A State Budget —Sen. Boucher

Report by Paula Antolini
August 15, 2017 11:24AM EDT

 

OPINION

CT’s Back-to-School Must Have: A State Budget —Sen. Boucher

We are weeks away from the start of a new school year, but the lack of a state budget is leaving many school districts uncertain about the future. Some communities have announced they will delay the start of school, and we have been told that 439 education positions have been cut or placed on hold because school districts don’t know how much, if any funding they will receive from the state. This is unacceptable!

In my interview below, I tell Talk of the Town’s Steve Noxon that the recently approved contract with state employee unions keeps Connecticut on a path to higher taxes and reduced services. It protects a small labor pool at the expense of taxpayers and municipalities.

Democrats want legislative Republicans to agree to vote for budgets we haven’t even seen. They are talking about raising taxes, and cutting school and town budgets.

Connecticut can’t keep doing the same thing.

Senate Republicans have distributed a 280-page budget plan that prioritizes spending for education, towns, and social services for those most in need. We put it on our website to show every detail and line item. Read it a www.NewDirectionCT.com

Legislative Democrats may not agree on every detail in our budget, but we believe it can be used a starting point for discussions.

We need to come to an agreement on a budget as soon as possible for the sake of our schools, municipalities, and vulnerable residents.

You can listen to my interview here.

 

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