News

Pew analysis shows debt in state retiree health care program is among worst in U.S.

Connecticut jumped into the fast-changing world of artificial intelligence Thursday with the Senate’s unanimous passage of a bill that would place the state among the first to begin setting standards for the use of AI tools.

At the request of his mother, Dennis Thomas went to a doctor just to make sure everything was fine.

Pitches budget with $750 million per year in relief, relies on big savings from freezing vacant state jobs

Senate Republicans weighed in on ongoing state budget negotiations Wednesday with a two-year, $50.4 billion tax and spending plan that prioritizes income and property tax relief while making cuts to state agencies.

Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont sought to build support for his budget proposal Tuesday, focusing on the fact that his spending plan includes deeper tax cuts than the Appropriations Committee’s proposal.

Towns and cities in Connecticut could save more than $33 million next fiscal year under an agreement, announced Wednesday by Comptroller Sean Scanlon, which would restructure a state-run pension plan for municipal workers.

As final budget talks near, governor says state is investing more in key areas but can’t do everything.

If you own a business with 5 or more employees and do not offer a qualified retirement savings plan, state law requires that you provide a retirement savings option. Initial registration deadlines have passed, but you can still take action by August 31, 2023. Employers can register with MyCTSavings at no cost to the business, or provide a private retirement plan to comply with the law. Learn more and register at https://myctsavings.com/employers/program-details.

Wesleyan poll finds voters, unlike the governor, favor higher taxes on the wealthy

Consensus Revenue Forecast shows $2.9B surplus, $400M less than expected

Critics say governor is exaggerating aid for towns, higher ed.

Critics say last study ignored impacts of several state taxes.

State Comptroller Sean Scanlon announced that the Premium Pay program, also known as Hero Pay, has concluded after providing one-time payments of up to $1,000 to 157,811 essential workers. The program, which was approved by the Connecticut General Assembly in 2022, aimed to provide support to the critical workforce that kept the state operational during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Last week, the Connecticut General Assembly’s Appropriations Committee endorsed a $51 billion budget for the next two fiscal years, and the Finance Committee endorsed a $300 million state tax-cutting plan that includes income tax rate reductions.

In response to feedback submitted through the exposure draft, NASBA has announced that it will adopt an increased testing window of 30 months.

Governor demands gimmick-free budget, Ritter warns Lamont could stand alone.

But overall tax-cutting plan is less generous than Gov. Ned Lamont’s proposal

Core education, health care and social services could be at risk without more funding, they say.

The Connecticut legislature’s finance committee advanced a two-year tax plan on Wednesday that disqualifies some wealthier households from the income tax cuts proposed by Gov. Ned Lamont while broadening an expansion of the Earned Income Tax Credit for the working poor.