The Stokes Report: Retroactive, Retribution, and Reefer

July 1st has just passed by, and all the new taxes have begun. In the new State of Connecticut budget, there are 77 new taxes and increased fees. One of the new tax increases is on the income tax. But, there is one major addition to this tax—it is retroactive to January 1, 2011. That’s right—we are all already behind in our taxes, and we will have to make up the difference.  

Our own State Senator John Kissel opposed this increase and argued against it being retroactive. Sen. Kissel recently spent an evening at our local ShopRite where he spent time talking to community members. As he listened to people, he was able to share information about the State budget and what it means to every citizen in Enfield. It was not easy to communicate the sad news that we all have come to understand. I compliment Mr. Kissel for taking the time to keep us all up-to-date on the happenings in Hartford.  

In a recent article Sen. Kissel said that “making this income tax hike retroactive is like State Government going back into our pocket and taking money they’ve [the State of Connecticut] already spent. Say for example you usually get a refund when you file your taxes. Many people count on that refund, but a lot of those refunds will be eaten up by the tax increase. That’s because the tax hike reaches back to January 1, 2011, and you didn’t even pay the higher rate the first part of the year. Think of it as a one-two punch to your August paychecks. Gov. Dan Malloy is asking you to pay a full year’s worth of taxes in a five-month period of time.”  

Sen. Kissel went on to say, “This is one of the big risks Gov. Malloy and Democrats have taken in passing the tax.  Families and businesses that dutifully planned out their yearly budget in advance are going to be taken by surprise by these new taxes.  They’re going to hurt.  You will have to reassess your budgets.  Cut additional cost.  Cut or eliminate their family vacations or day trips. Their elected officials have essentially pulled the rug out from under them and many still have no idea this is all going to happen in a matter of days” (June 23, 2011).  

If what has taken place in Hartford the past few months happened in a local business or even in our homes, we would be investigated by some officials. But the State of Connecticut was able to approve a budget that was not balanced, bill us for past services in the way of retroactive taxes, and ignore the Minority Party throughout the entire process.   Now we have thousands of men and women being laid off, cities and towns facing reduced funding next year, and our credit rating reduced to an “at-risk” level.  

One of the hardest hit unions is the Corrections Officers, many of whom serve in the Enfield area. It is pretty clear that Gov. Malloy has targeted them because of their unwillingness to buy into the house of cards we call the State Budget.  

These hard-working people have one of the most difficult jobs in the State. Day in and day out they place themselves in risky situations in our prisons. The stress they must deal with has to take its toll on them. Many of them serve in minimum-security assignments, but many more face challenges as they deal with some of society’s worst criminals, always knowing that in a moment they could be attacked.  

Now, Gov. Malloy wants to reduce their numbers and create a higher number of prisoners per guard. A high-stress job just became more stressful. From my vantage point this looks like retribution for not playing the game, and the ones that will be harmed are the citizens that live close to the prisons, who will lose at least some of their peace of mind. Of course, there is talk of early release for some inmates. I just hope that we don’t begin to balance budgets on the backs of public interest and safety.  

I asked Sen. Kissel his thoughts about the impact on the Corrections Officers, and here is what he shared with me:   “Our Corrections Officers were right on when they said, ‘Where is the shared sacrifice in the governor’s plan?’ They noted that the governor is: spending more than $600 million on the “Busway to Nowhere” between New Britain and Hartford; spending more than $800 million on the UConn Health Center; raising spending in the state budget by another $1 billion over the next two years (a four percent hike); and moving forward with the largest tax increase in state history.  

Our Corrections Officers quite appropriately pointed out that they did not see the ‘shared sacrifice’ coming out of the government spending side of the equation. Those who are attempting to discredit the rank and file union members are misguided.  Our Corrections Officers put an awful lot of thought and effort into trying to get details on the plan.  Up to a week before the vote, they did not know what was going to happen to their health plans.  That lack of clarity—combined with the absence of shared sacrifice—was what caused them to vote the deal down. Our Corrections Officers refused to be sold a bill of goods. Their vote was based on logic and common sense, and I commend them for it.”  

To put all this in perspective, we have a budget that gives us all the largest tax increase in history. We have thousands of layoffs, even though we are paying more for services. Public safety is now at risk with undermanned prisons and possible dangerous criminals being released early to balance the numbers.  

Next winter when the roads are covered with snow and ice, you can count on it taking longer to clear the state roads. And next year when we are trying to improve education in Enfield, you can be assured that the state will mandate more and provide for less.  

But at least getting caught with a small amount of marijuana will be a misdemeanor. When the dust clears, we may just need that. Just think about it. Taxes are retroactive, Corrections Officers layoffs could be retribution, and reefer is an offense that has a penalty equal to not wearing your seatbelt. Someone grab Toto; it’s time to leave Oz.