Tax Policy Collaborative Launches Website, Social Media

With today’s launch of taxpolicyct.org, the Tax Policy Collaborative intends to raise its voice in the unfolding debate over tax policy in Connecticut, highlighting the implications at the state and local levels for residents, businesses, and communities.

“Our primary focus is to significantly reduce the share of total state and local revenue collected from property taxes, and to do so in a way that advances economic growth and minimizes adverse land-use decisions,” said Bill Cibes, co-chair of the Tax Policy Collaborative.

The Tax Policy Collaborative will provide the public, news media and elected officials with information, data, and investigative reports highlighting responsible tax policy alternatives for the State of Connecticut. Through a newly launched website and use of social media, the Tax Policy Collaborative will share the latest news, perspectives and relevant background as issues are considered by state policymakers.

The Tax Policy Collaborative is composed of policymakers; former state legislators, municipal officials and executive branch officials; labor leaders; academics; regional government directors; budget experts and economists; and journalists. The new initiative seeks to be a catalyst for a serious policy conversation in this pivotal year and beyond.

The new website includes a compendium of resources on fiscal policy, links to organizations that provide up-to-date information and data on tax policies and structures, a calendar of upcoming key dates at the state legislature related to budget and tax policy, and news and views on unfolding issues including the spending cap, sprawl, regionalism, and pensions.

“Our intention is to provide facts and discuss the ramifications – good and bad – of decisions being considered at the Capitol throughout the budget process and beyond,” said Susan Merrow, co-chair of the Tax Policy Collaborative. “This year has been described as a fiscal crossroads for Connecticut, and we’re hoping to help Connecticut steer in a better direction.”

Tax Policy Collaborative members include Susan Merrow, chair of the Connecticut Council on Environmental Quality; Bill Cibes, chancellor emeritus of the Connecticut State University System and former secretary of the state Office of Policy and Management; John Elsesser, one of the longest tenured town managers in Connecticut, having served in Coventry since 1988; Lyle Wray, executive director of the Capitol Region Council of Governments; Jamie Mills; director of fiscal policy at Connecticut Voices for Children; Lee Erdmann, a veteran municipal consultant with extensive experience in town and city government; and John Filchak, with longtime experience in public policy development and currently head of the Northeastern Connecticut Council of Governments.

Members also include Alex Knopp, a visiting clinical lecturer at the Yale Law School and former state legislator; Albert Ilg, former interim city manager of Hartford and longtime town manager of Windsor; Michele Jacklin, a communications consultant, former journalist and previous member of the Glastonbury Town Council; Jeff Davis, a former state representative who co-chaired the Planning and Development Committee; Manisha Srivastava, a budget specialist and economist in the budget division of the state Office of Policy and Management; Liz Dupont-Diehl, director of Upstream Solutions, which focuses on Pay for Success and other innovations in financing; and Bill Curry, a former state senator, state comptroller, and Democratic candidate for governor.

The work of the Tax Policy Collaborative focuses on rebalancing the revenue system so that property taxes constitute a lesser share of total state and local revenue than the current 41.9% of all taxes. Making Connecticut’s tax structure simpler, fairer and more progressive has implications for other policies: it can help achieve economic equity and racial justice through “fair share” affordable housing policies; it can restructure education funding necessary to close the achievement gap; and it can help produce economic growth that benefits all citizens and helps to close the enormous income gap.

The efforts of the Tax Policy Collaborative may also address responsible management of employee benefits and retirement income; regional collaborations and economies of scale; transparency and accountability; environmental, social and economic justice; meaningful citizen participation; clean energy alternatives; investment in human capital; and a viable, safe and affordable public transportation network.

The Tax Policy Collaborative evolved from the longstanding Property Tax Working Group, a project of 1000 Friends of Connecticut. The new website is www.taxpolicyct.org; on Twitter the Tax Policy Collaborative can be followed on @taxpolicyct. Individuals may subscribe, at no charge, to receive a daily email with the latest news and views.