Sales Tax and Transportation Reform Expected Topics for Connecticut Budget

by Stephanie Colombini | 02/16/2015 | 5:04pm

Sales Tax and Transportation Reform Expected Topics for Connecticut Budget

Connecticut Governor Dannel P. Malloy's making his biennial budget address Wednesday.
Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy says the biennial budget he'll unveil Wednesday includes a two-year plan to reduce the sales tax from 6.35% to 5.95%.  He says that would make the state's sales tax the lowest in the region.  
 
Malloy says reducing the tax is a way to give back to residents who've sacrificed a great deal to help Connecticut's economy recover.
 
"Doing what we're doing will have the broadest impact to the middle class of Connecticut," Malloy said.  "People who are buying a house and, say, putting in a new kitchen will experience lower costs.  People buying a new or late model car will have lower costs."
 
Malloy says eliminating some minor sales tax exemptions, including one for clothing scheduled to begin this summer, will allow the sales tax to drop for almost all items.
 
Another thing on the governor's agenda is plans to overhaul the state's transportation system.
 
Governor Malloy says creating a first-class transportation system would help Connecticut address its other top priorities.
 
"We need to grow our economy so that we can continue the process of investing more money in education," Malloy said.  "We've seen educational results that are very significant, but that process needs to continue; and transportation is a major part of that."
 
Malloy plans to outline a 30-year statewide plan for improving transportation in his budget. He says he'll also discuss criminal justice reform and as well as call for competitive pricing of alcohol in the state. 
 

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