Greenwich Delegation Praises Republicans' New State Budget Plan

GREENWICH, Conn. – Greenwich State Reps. Livvy Floren (R-149), Mike Bocchino (R-150) and Fred Camillo (R-151) joined their fellow Republican lawmakers Monday in support of a revised 2017 budget proposal that closes the state’s projected $935.7 million deficit, restores funding to core social services, protects local town education funding and implements long-term structural changes to the state budget.

State Rep. Livvy Floren (R-149).
Photo Credit: *Contributed*

Nicole Briggs

04/26/2016 1:00 p.m.

The Pathway to Sustainability proposal includes savings that roll out over the next five years, mitigating future projected budget shortfalls.

“This plan is a logical approach to getting our state back on track and back in the black. For the first time since I have been in this caucus, we have created a 5-year plan that creates a surplus, makes long term structural changes and protects the state’s most vulnerable,” said Floren.

The Pathway to Sustainability plan includes a line-by-line budget to mitigate the fiscal year 2017 deficit, as well as long term structural changes to prevent future deficits. The GOP 5-year plan is projected to produce annual surpluses, with a cumulative total of over $1 billion.

The proposed Republican budget would restore funding to core social services, while also making needed cuts and implementing new policies that generate long-term savings, including:

Social services protection -- In order to preserve the safety net of services for the disabled, those with mental health needs, children, the elderly and those in poverty, this proposal eliminates new proposed budget cuts to direct services.
Restoration of support for hospitals and Medicaid reimbursements.
Restores education funding for towns and increases statutory grants to municipalities. Also preserves funding at 100 percent for car tax capping and implements a robust municipal mandate relief package.
Maintains funding throughout the next five years.
Administrative reductions. To enable the state to protect funding for core services, the budget cuts specific, non-service accounts by 12 percent for a total savings of $157.5 million.
Funds transportation development with “Prioritize Progress” – a no tolls/ no tax increases plan.
Implements long-term structural changes to the state budget including mandatory voting by the legislature on labor contracts, overtime accountability protocols and caps on spending and bonding.
Prices out savings from changes to unionized state employee health and pension benefits to offer an alternative to layoffs should unions negotiate.

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