June 2, 2015
State Representatives Victor Cuevas (D-Waterbury) and Larry Butler (D-Waterbury) backed a biennial budget package (HB 7061) that provides property tax relief to working families, protects the services that middle-class families rely on, and invests in a world-class transportation system to grow our economy.
“Providing reform to the regressive car tax gives Waterbury residents real property tax relief,” said Rep. Butler. “In combination with investments in local human services, this budget delivers what Waterbury needs,” Rep. Butler said.
“Legislature protects essential funding for the families that need it most, including social services, libraries, and before- and after-school programs,” Rep. Cuevas said.
Beginning July 1, 2016, Waterbury will receive additional state funding, mainly from state sales tax revenue that will be directed toward municipalities for property tax relief. Waterbury will receive an additional $9.5 million.
The budget institutes a cap of 32 mills in 2016 and 29.36 mills in 2017 on the rate cities and towns use to levy car taxes which will be a significant decrease for the city’s residents. Since the state will cover any lost revenue to municipalities with higher mill rates, it’s a win for taxpayers and cities and towns. This will be a significant savings over Waterbury’s current 58.2 mill rate.
Facing projected deficits over the next two years, over a billion dollars of cuts have been made to the current services budget. The budget also ensures significant investments in Connecticut’s crumbling transportation infrastructure, including improvements to roads, bridges and rail.