Government GOP Unveils Alternative, No-Increase State Budget

It's coming a little late in the game, but Republican leaders in Hartford hope their alternative budget proposal is a home run that everyone can rally around.

State Sen. Len Fasano joined Republican legislative leaders Tuesday and unveiled a no-tax increase budget proposal for fiscal years 2012 and 2013. 

“Our budget is a direct response to people demanding we shrink government and control expenses,” said Fasano, (R-34).  “The proposal we unveiled will not tax families who are already trying to survive in a difficult economic environment. We owe the people of Connecticut an alternative to tax increases, and that is what this proposal does.”

By focusing on core government functions, eliminating waste and creating efficiencies, the significantly reduces the size and cost of government while protecting the social safety net and preserving state aid to municipalities, according to GOP leaders.

“The Republican Alternative Budget is a blueprint for ending Connecticut’s current fiscal crisis and helping to prevent a future crisis,” said Senate Republican Leader John McKinney, who represents the 28th District. 

Highlights of the proposed budget include:

• No new taxes on any business, individual, employer, service or good.
• More than $1.5 billion in .
• Preservation of municipal aid at current levels for all towns and cities.
• Enhanced Medicaid fraud detection to save an estimated $224 million.
• More than $46 million in savings through agency consolidations.
• Streamlining government through attrition and reductions to the 54,000 member state workforce.
• No borrowing for state operating expenses.
• Full restoration of the $500 property tax credit cut by Gov. Malloy.
• The pre-payment of $200 million in the state’s highest cost debt, allowing greater flexibility in budgeting throughout state agencies.
• Restoration of the sales tax free week to help Connecticut consumers support household budgets.
• Elimination of longevity payments for state employees.   

Fasano has held many on the state budget crisis and, he said, one reoccurring theme from folks in the community is: "All we ask for is fairness."   To that end, Fasano said, “Getting rid of longevity bonuses is a start. This is a generous perk the state can no longer afford.”

The nonpartisan Office of Fiscal Analysis estimates these twice-a-year bonuses for thousands of state employees will cost the state’s General and Special Transportation Fund $34.5 million in each of the next two fiscal years.

Connecticut state employees begin receiving longevity payments upon reaching 10 years of state service and will see an increase after reaching 15, 20 and 25 years of service. These bonuses are provided in addition to cost of living adjustments and are based solely on a person’s years of service, not job performance.

Downsizing government is also a key part of this proposal. Of the proposed reductions in state-funded positions, 1,250 would be targeted toward management. The Bipartisan Commission on Enhanced Agency Outcomes recommended that Connecticut cut in half the number of managers to come in line with the private sector.

Fasano said he believes making government smaller may not be easy, but it is the right thing to do.

“In this budget we were forced to make very tough decisions, but I believe residents have also been forced to make very tough decisions in their own household budgets and will understand this is the right path to a sustainable future,” he said.

, (D-99), said he had a chance to quickly look at the Republican's budget proposal. He said he agrees to an extent with the need to cut some managerial positions in the state's workforce. "We should be more efficient," he said. But, he added, the way the GOP's proposal goes about this change seems "gimmicky" and not very substantiative.

While he commended Republicans for putting in the time to craft their budget proposal, he said it may have come too late. "It may not have enough time to get discussed," he said.

That's because the Finance Committee, which presents the revenue side of the state budget, will likely vote on its package tomorrow. And the Appropriations Committee, which sets the spending side, is also working against a deadline of next week.

"I have a feeling that most of the Republican incentives in the budget will be shot down," Albis said.

With Speaker of the House Christopher G. Donovan stating that he would like to get the full budget approved by the House and Senate by early May, there is a real sense of purpose in Hartford, Albis said. That timeline is much earlier than in past years.

In light of the recent near-shutdown of the federal goverment, Albis said it would be a great accomplishment if Connecticut legislators can put aside political differences and approve a budget that everyone is happy with.

"If we can do that it would be a great message." he said. "It’d be great to send that message that we’re working for the people of Connecticut. That they don’t come out on the short end of the stick."