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Opening a Conversation

In 1971, Connecticut implemented the state lottery system. The public was told earnings from gambling would go for public education, thus relieving residents’ tax burdens. In 1991, Connecticut implemented a state income tax. The public was told this would solve all of our fiscal problems. In 1993, Connecticut allowed casino slot machines to operate for a percentage of the income. The state has received approximately $7 billion through 2015.

Between 2006 and 2015, the state economy also grew by 17 percent. During the same period, state expenditures grew by 48.9 percent. Since then, state expenditures have exceeded state revenues every year. Now the governor proposes eliminating education grants to many towns in favor of giving cities more money, and that towns should pay into the teacher retirement fund because of the state’s budget shortfalls. This represents a four mill increase in Killingworth’s property taxes. This is on top of the largest tax increases in Connecticut history, after the governor took office.

The State of Connecticut has collected billions throughout the last 40 years and yet the state is still constantly broke. The state doesn’t have a revenue problem. It has a spending problem and towns like Killingworth are now being asked to pay the bills.

Where will this all end? Opening a conversation between Killingworth residents and the state legislature is the only way to fix this. How many more people will remain in Killingworth or leave the state for greener tax pastures? Opening a conversation between Killingworth taxpayers and state leaders is the only way to avoid a bleak future for the town and the state.

We have no choice. Killingworth is a small town with a small budget. It simply is not equipped to pay the bills the state is pushing on us.

Selectman Fred Dudek

Killingworth