© 2024 Connecticut Public

FCC Public Inspection Files:
WEDH · WEDN · WEDW · WEDY · WNPR
WPKT · WRLI-FM · WEDW-FM · Public Files Contact
ATSC 3.0 FAQ
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Gov. Malloy Defers Budget to Legislature; Won’t Tax Wealthy

Chion Wolf
/
WNPR
Gov. Dannel Malloy at WNPR for a special edition of The Wheelhouse.
"I get banged up because we're not raising taxes. I get banged up because we're raising taxes. I understand, it's the job I ran for."
Gov. Dannel Malloy

Already facing shortfalls in the budget he presented last month, Governor Dannel Malloy said Wednesday that it’s now in the hands of state lawmakers.

“The law is very clear, the budget I have to present is balanced, and it is balanced. We’ve met our legal requirement,” Malloy said, speaking on WNPR’s Where We Live.

But Malloy’s budget comes with big cuts to higher education and social services , and met heavy opposition from educators last week.  He also proposed deferring some $200 million in tax cuts proposed last year during his re-election campaign.

Malloy said his plan is to phase in a lowering the sales tax over the next few years to make up for that tax relief that won't happen now. He also said that the budget cuts are "tough" but necessary, given a looming state budget shortfall of roughly $3 billion over the next two years.

“Here I sit, I get banged up because we’re not making cuts. I get banged up because we’re not raising taxes. I get banged up because we’re raising taxes. I understand, it’s the job I ran for.” Malloy said.

Many advocates for social service providers have been calling for a higher tax rate for the top income earners in the state. But Malloy said he would not support legislation that would raise taxes on families making over $500,000. He deferred again to the legislature.

“I am not advocating it, and I’m unlikely to support it, but I’d have to see what the legislators put on my desk,” Malloy said.

Malloy's budget chief Ben Barnes warned in December that Connecticut might have entered a "permanent fiscal crisis." Malloy said that while there's some reality to that claim, he "wouldn't have put it that way."

“Revenues are not growing as rapidly as expenses are. I think that’s been true over the past five years, and likely is to be true over the next five years,” Malloy said.  

Ryan King is an intern at WNPR.

Ryan Caron King joined Connecticut Public in 2015 as a reporter and video journalist. He was also one of eight reporters on the New England News Collaborative’s launch team, covering regional issues such as immigration, the environment, transportation, and the opioid epidemic.

Stand up for civility

This news story is funded in large part by Connecticut Public’s Members — listeners, viewers, and readers like you who value fact-based journalism and trustworthy information.

We hope their support inspires you to donate so that we can continue telling stories that inform, educate, and inspire you and your neighbors. As a community-supported public media service, Connecticut Public has relied on donor support for more than 50 years.

Your donation today will allow us to continue this work on your behalf. Give today at any amount and join the 50,000 members who are building a better—and more civil—Connecticut to live, work, and play.

Related Content