State Budget Is Balanced, Responsible and Avoids Gimmicks

When the General Assembly convened in January we faced an enormous challenge – a budget deficit of $3.5 billion and an economy still trying to recover from the nation’s worst recession since the Great Depression.

Putting Connecticut back on solid financial footing would require very difficult decisions, especially after the many years in which the state’s problems went unaddressed under the leadership (or lack thereof) of previous administrations.

Governor Dannel P. Malloy proposed a budget that called for all residents of Connecticut to share in the sacrifice necessary for restoring our state to fiscal soundness.

The governor’s plan, however, did not go far enough in cutting spending and consolidating services. Before I could vote for it, substantial changes had to be made to further reduce spending and ensure that Enfield would be treated fairly. After many hours of discussions and negotiations those changes were made.

Still, Tuesday’s budget vote by the House was one of the most difficult votes I have had to make in my political life, which began in 2007 in Enfield. It is no secret that I was not a fan of the proposed budget. However, the alternatives to this budget would have been devastating to the town of Enfield and to Connecticut as a whole.

When I encountered voters in my 2010 election campaign, the issue of the state’s $3.5 billion deficit would more often than not be the topic of conversation. 

In nearly every single discussion I had with voters I said that the next state budget would need to have a fair balance of revenue increases (unfortunately in this case, taxes) and budget cuts.  I also said no to more borrowing or budget gimmicks to solve our problem. 

I was elected to help solve our state’s budget crisis while still doing everything in my power to protect my constituents, the residents of Enfield.  There are a lot of things I don’t like about this budget, but some that I do. I also said in my campaign and in budget talks that I would do everything in my power to protect the property taxpayer in Enfield.

I’m happy to report that this state budget provides the town of Enfield with more state aid and education dollars than in previous years. Under the budget plan that I voted for, Enfield is projected to receive $371,556 more than the $32,339,860 it was allocated in grants and revenue by the state in 2011. In 2012, the state is expected to give $32,711,415 to Enfield and $32,785,090 in 2013.     

Because of this, Enfield should not feel pressured to raise property taxes, the most regressive of all taxes.  Unlike budgets recently passed in New York and New Jersey, I refused to pass the burden on to the municipalities and property taxpayers.

With the enormity of our challenges, solutions were inevitably going to require difficult and unpopular decisions. I believe, however, we’ve been able to achieve a budget result that is honest, fair and responsible – one that is good for the people of Enfield and one that can help Connecticut recover and prosper.

Rep. David Kiner
Enfield