Bag Tax, Tuition Hike Proposed in CT

Public higher education and plastic bags would get more expensive under separate proposals in Connecticut.

A proposal calls for a four percent tuition hike at universities, 2.5 percent at community colleges and four percent at Charter Oak State college beginning in fiscal year 2018. It would go up by the same percent for the next fiscal year. The proposal doesn’t cover the University of Connecticut.

The increase is about $50 per semester at community colleges and $200 per semester at universities. It is a smaller increase than the previous two years.

“This does not close our deficit and we would never look to tuition to do so,” said CT State Colleges and Universities President Mark Ojakian. “If we did, we would have to raise it by double-digits and that’s not an option we’d be willing to consider.”

The full CSCU board is scheduled to vote on the proposal April 6.

“I am fully aware that an increase is still an increase and this will impact you and your families,” Ojakian said in a letter addressed to students. “As a public higher education system, we will work hard to provide you with the affordable high quality education you deserve and expect.”

Bag Tax Passes Hurdle
Forgetting reusable bags at the grocery store could cost shoppers under a proposed bill.

There would be a five-cent fee (essentially a tax) for single-use carryout bags that would go into effect Oct. 1. Fees collected would go to the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection for environmental conservation purposes.

The bill passed the Environment Committee, but still needs approval from the state House of Representatives and Senate before it becomes law.

It’s estimated that a billion single-use bags are used in the state per year.

Image via Spencer Platt /Getty Staff