Opinion: Looking Ahead at the 2016 Session

The following letter to the editor was written by State Rep. David Arconti, Jr., who serves the 109th district of Danbury.

“The 2016 legislative session began earlier this month and once again I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to represent the people of Danbury in the Connecticut General Assembly.

We undoubtedly have a lot of challenges facing us this year and both parties will need to work across the aisle to solve them. That means not walking away from the negotiating table when times get tough. We need to focus on finding real solutions to Connecticut’s problems.

The state of Connecticut has one of the best education systems in the country, but unfortunately we are losing some of our educated young professionals to other states. That is why I co-introduced legislation this year to reduce the ‘brain drain’ of youth leaving Connecticut for more favorable tax climates. This bill creates a plan to reduce the personal income tax burden on single-filers in our state, who currently pay up to five times more income tax than individuals who filing jointly.

I know from going door-to-door that property taxes are also a burden for many. Increased municipal aid and education funding will be key to keeping property taxes down and making sure that our kids receive a top-notch education. I am proud to say that since my election in 2012, I have secured nearly $10 million in additional education funding and millions more in direct municipal aid funding to the City of Danbury. Looking toward the future, maintaining that level of funding will be one of my top priorities in Hartford.

While some may paint a ‘gloom and doom’ picture for the state, there are many great reasons to live in Connecticut like a high-quality of life, cultural amenities, a strong social safety net, and educational opportunities. Our unemployment rate is the lowest it has been since the great recession, and our state was recently named one of the top five most innovative states in the country by Bloomberg news. I am optimistic about Connecticut’s future and look forward to what the 2016 session has in store.”