[RunD1987]

I would be game if the State created lock boxes of funds for various angencies of the State.

For transportation funds would be collected from tolls. A lowered the gas taxes by 50% & 4 year's do away with the gas tax. One time car property tax fee. Tax breaks for those who utilize State recognized non-automobile transport for work. Used sales tax on vehicle purchases out of the State and tax break for owners of non-gasoline automobiles.

Excise tax on alcohol, beer, wine, cigarettes, marijuana, and scratch off lotto tickets that excise tax goes to DMHAS services in the State.

Replace income tax with a flat tax of 5% and a flat business tax of 10%.

Create a open health insurance market in the State.

Work towards forming County government in the State again. Reduce mill rates! Have a county tax. Allow cities/town's to implement their own sales and school tax that can't exceed 3%.

Lower sales tax to 5%. No sales tax on clothes or prepackaged food.

[beerbeer]

The state pension liabilities doom the state for the next decade. The Democrats and the unions took advantage of the people in Connecticut for half a century and it will take along time to get out. Heck, one of Malloy's first actions was a promise not to fire a single state union employee. They still have not addressed the problem.

Even if the state's economy heats up, which it should, it will lag behind the rest of the USA. Raising taxes will NOT help. They will just spend any increase. Time to bite the bullet and end the nanny-state. Yes, people will be hurt. But he medicine needs to be strong.

[BobNJ1960]

Originally Posted by beerbeer

The state pension liabilities doom the state for the next decade. The Democrats and the unions took advantage of the people in Connecticut for half a century and it will take along time to get out. Heck, one of Malloy's first actions was a promise not to fire a single state union employee. They still have not addressed the problem.

Even if the state's economy heats up, which it should, it will lag behind the rest of the USA. Raising taxes will NOT help. They will just spend any increase. Time to bite the bullet and end the nanny-state. Yes, people will be hurt. But he medicine needs to be strong.

Ct needs both a higher ratio of residents to gov't employees (latter needs to be sharply cut), and a giant reduction in cost per gov't employee, which mus be achieved via a shift to Defined Contribution replacing Defined benefits for all employees, capping pension at vested level at time of transition.

Otherwise, pension default is a matter of when, not if.

[GeoffD]

Originally Posted by BobNJ1960

Its actually one of many nice counties. Hendersonville and neighbors in Sumner County also quite nice-home of Taylor Swift's family plus many major country music stars.

Sumner County has a median household income of $56K. Williamson County is $104K. Sure, there might be a few little pockets of nice but nothing like Williamson County.

[BobNJ1960]

Originally Posted by GeoffD

Sumner County has a median household income of $56K. Williamson County is $104K. Sure, there might be a few little pockets of nice but nothing like Williamson County.

Williamson is #7 in nation.

An anomaly nationally.

It has not peaked yet, btw.

An amazing place.

[JayCT]

Originally Posted by BobNJ1960

Ct needs both a higher ratio of residents to gov't employees (latter needs to be sharply cut), and a giant reduction in cost per gov't employee, which mus be achieved via a shift to Defined Contribution replacing Defined benefits for all employees, capping pension at vested level at time of transition.

Otherwise, pension default is a matter of when, not if.

Connecticut’s ratio of state workers to residents is high because we do not have a county level of government so the state takes on many of the duties that counties do in other states. We also do not have vast sections of unincorporated areas. This also adds to the local government numbers.

That said, the number of public sector jobs has dropped which is one of the main reasons our employment levels have not returned to prerecession levels. Most of the private sector jobs have returned which is good and it is unlikely that many of the public sector jobs will come back which is also good.

As has been said here MANY times already, the state has significantly changed its pension program. Public employees pay more into it now and pay more of their medical insurance as well. I think it is time to stop complaining over and over about things from the past that cannot change. It is questionable at best if a pension default will occur. The best anyone knows is it won’t but some still like to constantly cry about it. Unless you have some proof of this happening from a reliable and independent source, I think it is time to stop scaring people for little to no reason. Jay

[BobNJ1960]

Originally Posted by JayCT

Connecticut’s ratio of state workers to residents is high because we do not have a county level of government so the state takes on many of the duties that counties do in other states. We also do not have vast sections of unincorporated areas. This also adds to the local government numbers.

That said, the number of public sector jobs has dropped which is one of the main reasons our employment levels have not returned to prerecession levels. Most of the private sector jobs have returned which is good and it is unlikely that many of the public sector jobs will come back which is also good.

As has been said here MANY times already, the state has significantly changed its pension program. Public employees pay more into it now and pay more of their medical insurance as well. I think it is time to stop complaining over and over about things from the past that cannot change. It is questionable at best if a pension default will occur. The best anyone knows is it won’t but some still like to constantly cry about it. Unless you have some proof of this happening from a reliable and independent source, I think it is time to stop scaring people for little to no reason. Jay

We need to convert to Defined Contributions, which require no state funding after the paydate..ever.

Just as the private sector's retirement is funded.

Not simply require a teeny weeny employee pension contribution.

Analysts rate Ct as 3rd in line likely to default, Il and NJ first.

https://insight.kellogg.northwestern...sions_in_peril

[BobNJ1960]

The Day - 'A financial time bomb': State pension system is one of the country's most underfunded - News from southeastern Connecticut

[Lincolnian]

Originally Posted by BobNJ1960

The Day - 'A financial time bomb': State pension system is one of the country's most underfunded - News from southeastern Connecticut

It's always nice to recycle old articles that have been discussed again and again as if it is new information.

[BobNJ1960]

Originally Posted by Lincolnian

It's always nice to recycle old articles that have been discussed again and again as if it is new information.

The time bomb is still ticking.

Largely due to Malloy not seizing a golden opportunity, when he issued 6k layoffs saying "Union turned down my LAST, final offer", then pulled the pink slips away.

That RIF change would have largely solved legacy cost problems, for generations to come.