Residents Voice Discontent at State Budget Presentation

State Senator Len Fasano (R-34) and State Representative Dave Yaccarino (R-87) held a presentation on Governor Malloy's proposed budget for Connecticut last night to a packed house at North Haven Memorial Library. Both legislators were critical of the state's finances, emphasizing Connecticut's escalating cost of living, and suggesting that the Governor's plan does not go far enough in cutting spending.

The evening kicked off with a PowerPoint slide-show detailing the state's recent economic trajectory, including one portion explaining the steady rise in government spending versus Connecticut's relatively flat population growth. Providing figures procured from the nonpartisan state Office of Fiscal Analysis, the graph showed a 287.5% rise in government spending versus a 9% population growth and a 90.8% climb in inflation.

Pressing on, the legislators presentented the state Office of Policy and Management's budget deficit projections for fiscal years 2011-2013, showing shortfalls of $3.18 billion in 2012, and $2.95 billion in 2013.

"You have to have a long-term vision when it comes to finances in your home, your business, and in your government," said Yaccarino. "We're not seeing that mentality at the state level."

Governor Malloy's proposed budget, the legislators continued, seeks to close the gap primarily through raising taxes on a variety of products and services—including, the presentation claimed, pet grooming, car washes, and yoga—as well as through employee concessions and spending reductions.

Citing a Rasmussen poll, Yaccarino noted that if the current budget passes, 58% of Connecticut's population might consider leaving the state.

The pair then walked the audience through a breakdown of how the new taxes would affect certain population groups, calculating a $1,090 tax increase for a two-child family earning $120,000 a year, and a $786.64 tax increase for  a single mother raising two children.

"If you need to buy an Excedrin after hearing about all of this," Yaccarino joked, "You're going to need to pay a tax on that."

In addition to needling fiscal irresponsibility in Hartford, Yaccarino and Fasano also took aim at Connecticut's unfavorable business climate, citing the state's highest-in-the-nation per capita state and local taxes, its significant electricity costs and gas taxes, and its $4,500 per capita unfunded pension liability.

"I want my kids to stay in Connecticut," Fasano said. "These numbers are not conducive to building an appealing business climate."

Pressed by the audience to offer alternatives to Malloy's budget, Fasano proposed a series of measures, including closing the Riverview children's psychiatric hospital in Middletown, contracting our Bradley airport, and 10% salary cuts for all legislators.

Indicating North Haven First Selectman Michael Freda in the audience, Fasano said: "We have to do what Mike did here in town: what you spent last year is what you'll spend this year. To get to the budget number is going to require uncomfortable cuts."

Motioning to the audience, Fasano added, "You guys dictate what we do."

There was widespread disagreement on this point in the crowd.

"You say that but you don't," said one resident.

During a question and answer session following the presentation, numerous citizens described their grievances and concerns with the current proposal, and what many perceived as a governmental status quo unwilling to listen to constituents or back away from questionable spending practices.

One audience member carried a phone book up to the microphone and displayed its eighteen pages worth of phone numbers for government agencies.

"Compare that with 1985," he said. "Why can't we consolidate?"

Another attendee questioned the creation of new agencies created by former Governor Jodi Rell.

"I doubt if the new Governor even knows some of these groups exist," he said.

"You don't even know everything," he added to the legislators. "There is so much administrative boondoggle that it becomes impossible to keep track of it all."

"If we ran our businesses the way the state operates theirs," said a North Haven resident, "we would be broke or in jail."

Fasano and Yaccarino cut comments off at 8:00 p.m., encouraging constituents to call them to discuss their concerns further.

Senator Fasano can be reached at 1-800-842-1421. Representative Yaccarino can be reached at 1-800-842-1423.

The legislators will repeat the presentation on April 12 in East Haven, and again on April 28 in Wallingford.

The House Republicans, the Democratic majority, and the Senate Republicans are currently in the process of crafting their own budgets in addition to Malloy's.