[jane_sm1th73]

Originally Posted by RunD1987

So visited NH this weekend and no sales tax is awesome! 2.50 for Gallon of regular a 50 cent difference here. CT really should do away with Sales Tax in 10 years.

Too late to capitalize on this but liquor was State run...Though no idea how CVS and grocery stores were selling wine but CT should capitalize on that. CT should some how when marijuana is legalize have State run dispensaries to draw some revenue in.

Rund, please consider reframing your worldview away from government meddling in almost everything. In case you have not realized this, every rule and regulation CT enacts calls for a new State employee department to "manage" it and to "provide oversight". Given the general level of ignorance in State employees, one department cannot possibly be permitted to be less than 25 people. OOPS. With 25 people, you need to construct an executive layer as well.

Add up those salaries and benefits over 20-30 years - to "administer" every new regulation that you crave - runs into bix bux, lots more debt, and lots higher taxes. Multiply this one regulation by the thirty you regularly recite.

Don't you ever think about the consequences before you blast us with your suggestions for new and revived regulations? Just sayin'.

[RunD1987]

If CT can sell some marijuana at a lower price than Mass. State makes some money out of it good for the State. Though rather just wipe sales tax off the board and have a 15% excise tax on alcohol, wine, cigarettes, beer, marijuana, and liquor.

[Lincolnian]

Originally Posted by RunD1987

If CT can sell some marijuana at a lower price than Mass. State makes some money out of it good for the State. Though rather just wipe sales tax off the board and have a 15% excise tax on alcohol, wine, cigarettes, beer, marijuana, and liquor.

No new taxes should be added without first analyzing the current structure and looking for some consolidation. In some cases, such as environmental protection and mental health areas, they need to be expanded. Infrastructure as many people have discussed at length is also a key area as the structural problems with the pensions and retiree healthcare.

Some areas of the state government have gotten out of hand. There are too many commissioners and too much duplicity of services. We do not need commissioners for every conceivable representation of equal rights. All people's equal rights should be protected and department personnel should be sensitive and competent to make sure that everyone's constitutional rights and policies dictated by federal law are being properly followed. We also need to stop with the political appointments of friends of key officials (like the governor) to act as expensive figureheads of various departments, programs and initiatives.

Making pot legal, expanding gambling and gaming, and taxing the hills out of it just takes more money from, in many cases, desperate people's pockets adding to their difficulty. As mentioned before, our leaders should take a trip to Boston and discuss how Massachusetts reduced their income tax over a period of years, controlled their property taxes, and reformed their teacher's pension plans to name a few items that have led to an improved economic climate.

Connecticut has many valuable assets and some excellent companies that are located here. We cannot continue to squander opportunities to make this state more hospitable economically for its citizens and businesses since the barriers to move have never been lower. In my travels around New England people from other states often ask me what the heck is going on in Connecticut? From their perspective of what they see on the news and hear from friends and families that reside here it's on the brink of bankruptcy and they are forewarned to stay away despite the fact that there are numerous employment opportunities that go unfilled. It's a crisis of confidence and I fear any serious hints of a national economic slowdown will accelerate people's decision to make an exodus as they look to cash out before another recession hits.

[RunD1987]

Originally Posted by Lincolnian

No new taxes should be added without first analyzing the current structure and looking for some consolidation. In some cases, such as environmental protection and mental health areas, they need to be expanded. Infrastructure as many people have discussed at length is also a key area as the structural problems with the pensions and retiree healthcare.

Some areas of the state government have gotten out of hand. There are too many commissioners and too much duplicity of services. We do not need commissioners for every conceivable representation of equal rights. All people's equal rights should be protected and department personnel should be sensitive and competent to make sure that everyone's constitutional rights and policies dictated by federal law are being properly followed. We also need to stop with the political appointments of friends of key officials (like the governor) to act as expensive figureheads of various departments, programs and initiatives.

Making pot legal, expanding gambling and gaming, and taxing the hills out of it just takes more money from, in many cases, desperate people's pockets adding to their difficulty. As mentioned before, our leaders should take a trip to Boston and discuss how Massachusetts reduced their income tax over a period of years, controlled their property taxes, and reformed their teacher's pension plans to name a few items that have led to an improved economic climate.

Connecticut has many valuable assets and some excellent companies that are located here. We cannot continue to squander opportunities to make this state more hospitable economically for its citizens and businesses since the barriers to move have never been lower. In my travels around New England people from other states often ask me what the heck is going on in Connecticut? From their perspective of what they see on the news and hear from friends and families that reside here it's on the brink of bankruptcy and they are forewarned to stay away despite the fact that there are numerous employment opportunities that go unfilled. It's a crisis of confidence and I fear any serious hints of a national economic slowdown will accelerate people's decision to make an exodus as they look to cash out before another recession hits.

New taxes should be added when others are repealed. Yes taxes collected should be allocated to specific areas like excise taxes going to DMHAS/DDS.

[GeoffD]

Originally Posted by GoHuskies

Yup. Little 18 square mile Hartford with half the city being tax exempt will always be in fiscal crisis mode.

Little Hartford with 67% of births to single mothers and 65% of those below poverty level will always be in fiscal crisis mode. It's not the tax exempt status. It's the demographics of the city that cause the fiscal issues. You don't collect much property tax on low income housing relative to the impact on the school system.


FWIW, West Hartford has the same problem since it's socioeconomically mixed. The affluent 60% of the town has high property valuations and a low birth rate. The other 40% put large demands on the school system so the property tax rate is sky-high even though West Hartford spends less than the state average per pupil on schools. It's why affluent professional bedroom towns fight high density and low income/affordable housing to the death.

[SAE72]

Originally Posted by GeoffD

Little Hartford with 67% of births to single mothers and 65% of those below poverty level will always be in fiscal crisis mode. It's not the tax exempt status. It's the demographics of the city that cause the fiscal issues. You don't collect much property tax on low income housing relative to the impact on the school system.


FWIW, West Hartford has the same problem since it's socioeconomically mixed. The affluent 60% of the town has high property valuations and a low birth rate. The other 40% put large demands on the school system so the property tax rate is sky-high even though West Hartford spends less than the state average per pupil on schools. It's why affluent professional bedroom towns fight high density and low income/affordable housing to the death.

So are you trying to say that we should not educate children that are born out of wedlock ? If not , what's your point?

[JayCT]

Originally Posted by GeoffD

Little Hartford with 67% of births to single mothers and 65% of those below poverty level will always be in fiscal crisis mode. It's not the tax exempt status. It's the demographics of the city that cause the fiscal issues. You don't collect much property tax on low income housing relative to the impact on the school system.


FWIW, West Hartford has the same problem since it's socioeconomically mixed. The affluent 60% of the town has high property valuations and a low birth rate. The other 40% put large demands on the school system so the property tax rate is sky-high even though West Hartford spends less than the state average per pupil on schools. It's why affluent professional bedroom towns fight high density and low income/affordable housing to the death.

Having half of Hartford's Grand List being tax exempt does make a significant difference. That is basically half the potential tax revenue it currently gets from privately owned properties. It has been shown that for decades the state has not sufficiently compensated the city for the loss of revenue which is why Malloy agreed to take over the city's debt. If it went to court, it is likely that the state would have been found at fault and would have had to dish out a significant amount of money. It should not be discounted.

According to the US Census, West Hartford has 7.7% living below the poverty level. That is not out of line with a diverse community like West Hartford. Super-wealthy Greenwich has 6.3% living below the poverty level. West Hartford has always been a town that demanded the best in services which includes high quality schools, well equipped and staffed police and fire departments and other things like good libraries, parks and social services. That is more likely the cause of its higher taxes than the number of poor people in need of support. Jay

https://factfinder.census.gov/faces/...xhtml?src=bkmk

https://factfinder.census.gov/faces/...xhtml?src=bkmk

[JayCT]

The Coca Cola Bottling Company of Northern New England is making a significant investment in expanding its facilities here. They are expanding their East Hartford plant with a $22.3 million addition and establishing a new $42 million sales center here. This is great news since they are based in New Hampshire and could have done this there or in Needham, MA where they have another major production facility. Jay

Coca-Cola announces E. Hartford expansion, new CT sales hub | HartfordBusiness.com

[JayCT]

Originally Posted by JayCT

The Coca Cola Bottling Company of Northern New England is making a significant investment in expanding its facilities here. They are expanding their East Hartford plant with a $22.3 million addition and establishing a new $42 million sales center here. This is great news since they are based in New Hampshire and could have done this there or in Needham, MA where they have another major production facility. Jay

Coca-Cola announces E. Hartford expansion, new CT sales hub | HartfordBusiness.com

According to the Hartford Courant, the new sales center will be located in South Windsor. Jay

[SAE72]

Originally Posted by JayCT

According to the Hartford Courant, the new sales center will be located in South Windsor. Jay

That's understandable as Hartford County is actually somewhat of a bright spot economically in CT. Middle Class jobs appear to be available with a lower cost of living than many other areas of the State.
Despite what John Larson thinks, traffic is quite manageable , and many services are plentiful.