Legislators wary of extending income tax cut to the richest

By Keith M. Phaneuf The Connecticut Mirror

To say Gov. Ned Lamont’s call to cut state income taxes enjoys strong support among legislators might be an understatement.

But while the governor wants broad-based relief for as many as 1.1 million taxpayers, lawmakers from both parties are wary of doling out cuts to some of Connecticut’s higher-earning households.

Not over-reaching, some legislators say, increases the likelihood any new tax cuts won’t vanish in a year or two if the global economy slips.

“Doing things we can sustain is important to me,” said Rep. Maria Horn, D-Salisbury, co-chairwoman of the Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee, which must propose a tax and revenue plan for the next budget cycle by April 20. “I’d rather not promise a lot of things … and have people disappointed on all sides.”

When Lamont proposed a $50.5 billion budget back in February for the next two fiscal years, the centerpiece was a $500 million-plus package of tax cuts, topped by the first major cut in state income tax rates in Connecticut history.

Connecticut taxes most income using a blend of up to seven different rates. For example, a couple earning $110,000 annually would be charged 3% on the first $20,000 in adjusted gross income, 5% on the next $80,000 and 5.5% on the final $10,000 of adjusted gross earnings.

Lamont proposed reducing the two lowest rates starting in January 2024: 3% would become 2% and 5% would become 4.5%. The administration says many middle-income couples would save as much as $600 per year.

But because of the blendedrate system, many upper-income households also would benefit from this proposed cut. Only singles earning more than $540,000 and couples earning more than $1 million have all of their earnings taxed at one or two of the top marginal rates, which are 6.9% and 6.99%.

“It’s fair to say that you’re not a middle class wageearner at $500,000 or more,” said Sen. Henri Martin of Bristol, the ranking Republi- can senator on the Democrat-controlled finance panel.

See Tax, A21

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Prom wear

Plainville High School’s Prom Wear Boutique, located at the PHS Learning Commons, will be open Friday, March 24 from 3 to 5 p.m. More than 100 gowns will be available. Prices range from $1 for jewelry to $20 for floor length gowns.

Women writers

In recognition of Women’s History Month, the Plainville Historical Society will present “Writing Women,” a program which will highlight a diverse and fascinating group of women authors and journalists with Plainville connections. The “Writing Women” program will take place Saturday, March 25, 1:30 p.m., at the Plainville Historic Center, 29 Pierce St. Elevator access is available. Register by sending an email to plvhistorical@gmail.com with your name, contact information, and the number of people attending.

Transfer station

Plainville’s transfer station on Granger Lane is set to open for the season Saturday, April 8.

Hours of operation will be 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturdays only. The transfer station is for Plainville residents only. ID is required.

Direct questions to 860-7930221 ext. 7176.

Pierogi sale

Holy Trinity Polish National Catholic Church, 200 Summer St., Plantsville, is selling homemade pierogi (cheese, sauerkraut, potato and cheese, and sweet cabbage). Call Kathy at 860-977-5010 to place your order.

Veteran assistance

The Town of Southington Veterans Service Office is located in Town Hall, 75 Main St. Veterans may seek assistance with an array of issues.

Office hours are Tuesdays, 10 a.m. to noon, and the first and last Thursday of the month, 5 to 7 p.m.

To make an appointment outside of these hours, leave a message at 860-276-6299 or e-mail veteranscommittee@southington.org.

“We know that when the candidates come to a state they spend a lot of money, not only on their media buys, but also within our hospitality industry, on salaries, on staff,” Proto said. “So there’s a tangential benefit to doing this to making a competitive state that candidates want to come to.”

Connecticut was one of 20 states that made a bid for an early primary to the Democratic National Committee, which had made clear it was intent on shaking up the primary calendar by raising the profile of states with populations more diverse than the early primary caucus state of Iowa and primary state of New Hampshire.

State legislatures set the dates in conjunction with the political parties and sometimes at odds with them.

The parties establish a window for the states to hold their primaries, which can only be enforced by threatening to deprive states of delegate spots if they do not comply.

The Democrats’ new calendar would strip New Hampshire of its first-in-the-nation primary status by scheduling South Carolina for Feb. 3, Nevada and New Hampshire for Feb. 6, Georgia for Feb. 13, and Michigan for Feb. 27.

New Hampshire is expected to defy the Democrats’ new calendar, since state law requires its presidential primary to be at least seven days before any other state’s primary.

Republicans still would begin with a New Hampshire primary on Feb. 13.

Even with a primary on April 2, Connecticut still would be relatively late.

In addition to the five states with February primaries, another 14 will hold primaries on March 5, dubbed “Super Tuesday.”

The Super Tuesday lineup includes the New England states of Maine, Massachusetts and Vermont, along with delegate-rich California and Texas.

The other issue on which DiNardo and Proto agree is money.

They want the maximum contributions to the state party to be raised from $10,000 to $15,000.

“Our small donors are our lifeblood, and they really make our party hum,” Proto said. “But our maximum donors are also instrumental in helping us pay our everyday costs, and like any other business, and we do have a business side of this, our cost to do business has increased over the last 10 or 12 years. And we needed an opportunity to be able to pay for those costs as well.”

This story originally appeared at ctmirror.org, the website of The Connecticut Mirror.