House Republican Press Release

June 26, 2007

Press Office: 860-240-8700

REP. ROWE: TRUMBULL BENEFITS IN NEW STATE BUDGET

HARTFORD –On Monday, June 25, the State Senate approved a budget package that will benefit the Town of Monroe, while keeping tax increases to a minimum said State Rep. T.R. Rowe, R-Trumbull. The House of Representatives approved the $36 billion biennial budget package early Saturday morning and Governor M. Jodi Rell has indicated she will sign it into law shortly.

Under the budget, in Fiscal Year 2008: Trumbull will receive an additional $623,519 in state funding for a total of $3,644,261. The increased state funding contains historic increases in local education funding for each town, said Rep. Rowe.

During the 2007 Legislative session, both Governor Rell and the majority party Democrats proposed tax increases of $1.4 billion and $1.7 billion, respectively. In the first year of the budget, the only tax increase is a $86 million tax, which consists of an increase in the cigarette tax, from $1.51 per pack to $2 per pack. This tax increase is partially offset by targeted tax cuts largely aimed at helping consumers and businesses reduce energy consumption.

"The 28 % increase in education funding is a nice victory for Trumbull,” said Rep. Rowe. “We haven't seen that sort of increase in many, many years.  It is very disappointing that we did not enact tax relief, however.  The state was flush with a nearly $1 billion surplus, and at least a portion of that should have been passed along to taxpayers.  I also would have liked to see us pay down more of our long-term debt, but was pleased that we took care of our unfunded teacher pension obligations."

Additional components of the budget include:

· Depositing $100 million in the state Rainy Day Fund;

· Increased health care funding, including expansion of the HUSKY insurance program and  increased Medicaid reimbursement rates for hospitals, doctors, dentists and clinics;

· Increases in funding for state parks, including $1.7 million to hire additional park personnel.
Additional funds for programs that benefit the elderly, such as personal care assistants and Dial-a-Ride;

· Full funding for day programs provided to young adults with developmental disabilities who recently graduated from high school.