On April 13, Better Choices for Connecticut held a news conference to dispute myths about wealthy residents moving out of state because of income tax increases, to announce new regional research on taxes and migration, and to call for increasing income taxes on wealthy residents and maintaining the property tax credit. Video highlights from this event are below:

Jamey Bell from Connecticut Voices for Children introduces the event and the Better Choices income tax proposal.

Jon Shure from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities explains that raising income taxes on the wealthiest residents will help meet growing public needs, will help the state make investments that are crucial to creating jobs, and will not result in mass migrations.

Jeffrey Thompson from the Political Economy Research Institute at UMASS Amherst discusses the findings of new research on New England states indicating that residents move between states largely because of job and family issues, not taxes.

More video below!

As Tax Day approaches and state policymakers debate proposals to address the state’s major revenue gap, a statewide coalition proposed that income taxes be raised above the Governor’s proposed level for higher-income residents and, in exchange, that the state’s property tax credit be maintained. Better Choices for Connecticut, a broad-based community coalition of non-profit organizations, community groups, labor and faith based organizations, contends that there is room to increase taxes for wealthy residents in order to close the revenue gap and reduce the impact of tax increases and budget cuts on middle- and lower-income residents. State and national policy experts and researchers at the news conference disputed concerns that tax increases might drive wealthy residents from the state, presenting evidence from newly-released research studies:

• A study by the Political Economy Research Institute at the University of Massachusetts finds that the impact of taxes on cross-state migration is very weak. Other factors – primarily employment and family concerns – provide the main reasons that families move. The report, The Impact of Taxes on Migration in New England, concludes that family ties, comfort with the community, jobs, the costs of moving, and valuing public services in the state are the reasons families stay put, regardless of their state’s tax rates.
• While casting doubt on the impact of taxes on decisions to move, another study by Connecticut Voices for Children finds that large differences in property taxes among wealthy suburbs in Connecticut and New York give the Governor much more room to raise income taxes on the wealthy without exceeding overall New York state tax rates. The study found that property taxes in wealthy New York suburbs on homes for sale over $3 million dollars ranged from 69% to 232% higher than in Greenwich, and from 36% to 115% higher than in New Canaan. The study found that for someone with $1.7 million in taxable income in Greenwich, the difference in property taxes from Purchase, New York can be the equivalent of 2% in additional income tax.

The Governor has presented his budget for this fiscal year and now it is Better Choices’ turn to respond. And we must respond. Over the next seven weeks Governor Malloy will be holding a series of town hall meetings throughout the state. It is important to have representation at every meeting. We must present a cohesive front for increasing state revenue rather than cutting services, especially from our state's most vulnerable residents. The Governor states it is his preference, "to be out there, talking with people in the flesh." Let's not disappoint him. Please plan to attend the town hall meeting in your area.

If you or someone you know would like to speak at one of these meetings, please contact Amy Thompson at thompsonbc4ct@gmail.com or 203-886-6432. There should be at least 3 or 4 people at each meeting who will speak on the importance of increasing state revenue rather than cutting services

See below for a schedule of the upcoming town hall meetings.

Better Choices for CT has hired a Campaign Coordinator! Amy E. Thompson, MPH, has accepted the position and began her employment on February 15, 2011. Amy’s background is in social services and care management. Most recently, she switched career paths and spent two years working with CT Parent Power and the Universal Health Care Foundation organizing on the issue of health care reform.

This is a full-time temporary position to help Better Choices for Connecticut fulfill its goal of advocating for state budget policies that protect the most vulnerable, preserve jobs and services, and improve our economy. Her responsibilities will include:

• Outreach: Conduct outreach to educate groups and individuals about Better Choices for Connecticut and recruit new member organizations to the coalition.
• Coordination: Scheduling and facilitation of regular coalition meetings; phone, email and in person follow-up with Coalition members as needed regarding the activities of the coalition including meetings and events.
• Mobilization: Support for coalition members in mobilizing their bases for coalition activities including media events, rallies, lobby days and other efforts to help educate the public and shape the public policy debate on the state budget.
• Creation of materials: Development of presentation materials, fact sheets, e-mail updates, and other educational materials for coalition members and the general public.

Amy can be reached by email at thompsonbc4ct@gmail.com or by phone 203-886-6432. She is excited about this new opportunity and anxious to work with all of the coalition members so please do not hesitate to contact her.

Maggie Adair of the Connecticut Association for Human Services introduces February 2011 news conference on state revenue reforms.

Jamey Bell of Connecticut Voices for Children discusses the Better Choices revenue plan to help close Connecticut's state budget deficit.

As state policymakers face the challenge of a major state revenue gap and the Governor prepares to release his budget proposal next week, the Better Choices for Connecticut coalition proposed several revenue reforms to help close the deficit and reduce the need for severe budget cuts at a news conference today. (Also see summary fact sheet.) The Better Choices coalition, made up of nonprofit providers, public service workers, and community and advocacy organizations, called on the Governor and legislators to adopt the measures proposed in their report to help maintain vital public services during the recession when they are needed most — including education, health, housing, job training, public safety, environmental protection, and transportation systems. Better Choices for Connecticut argues that revenues and tax subsidies must be on the table and that severe cuts to the budget will hurt Connecticut families and the chances for economic recovery.

The menu of revenue options advocated by Better Choices for Connecticut includes proposals to:

• Reform the personal income tax, including a State Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) for working families and a temporary surtax on high-income households that would recapture the windfall achieved from the continuation of Bush-era federal tax cuts;
• Close corporate tax loopholes that benefit multi-state companies over local companies by implementing mandatory combined reporting;
• Scale back some of the state’s more than $3 billion in state sales and business tax subsidies (including exemptions, credits, deductions, and rate reductions);
• Roll back reductions to the estate tax, which affects only a handful of the state’s wealthiest residents;
• Reform Connecticut’s corporate income tax by applying a proportional tax to large “pass through” businesses that currently pay no corporate income taxes simply because of the way in which these companies are legally structured;
• Broaden the sales tax base to include services, rather than only goods;
• Restore the scheduled Petroleum Gross Earnings Tax rate increase; and
• Tax excess profits of electricity generators (windfall profits tax).

Check out these YouTube videos of the packed March 17 news conference announcing the Better Choices revenue plan:

Jamey Bell of CT Voices for Children outlining a balanced approach to reducing CT's budget deficit

William Cibes, Chancellor Emeritus and former Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, on revenue options that make sense for CT

Connecticut religious leaders urging lawmakers to adopt revenue options to close the budget deficit and protect vulnerable families

Phil Sherwood of CT Citizen Action Group on taxing the excess profits of electricity generators

Maggie Adair of CT Association of Human Services on why CT legislators must adopt revenue options to protect families

Also, see photos from the packed Better Choices news conference please subscribe to the Better Choices YouTube channel!

March 17, 2010
At a news conference today, Better for Choices for Connecticut released a report outlining several options to modernize Connecticut’s revenue system while closing our state’s massive budget deficit. The Better Choices coalition, made up of nonprofit providers, public service workers, and community and advocacy organizations, pressed legislators to adopt the measures to protect families in this devastating national recession, and maintain vital public services— including education, health, public safety, environmental protection, and transportation systems—when families are needing them most.

Increasing revenue, according to the Better Choices report, would align Connecticut with 30 other states that have acted in the last year to increase state revenues to not only keep pace with the growing need for public services, but to position themselves for future growth and sustainability when better economic conditions return. Notably, citizens in Oregon themselves voted to raise personal income taxes on higher-income households in order to maintain the state’s quality of life.

The menu of revenue options advocated by Better Choices for Connecticut includes proposals to:

• Close corporate tax loopholes that benefit multi-state companies over local companies;
• Evaluate the $5 billion in tax breaks in state tax laws and reduce or eliminate unproductive tax breaks;
• Increase income taxes for those who can best afford it, the state’s wealthy residents;
• Delay reductions in the gift and estate tax, a tax that affects only a handful of the state’s wealthiest residents;
• Either increase the sales tax or modernize it to cover services rather than only goods;
• Raise taxes on unhealthy products such as soda;
• Restore the scheduled Petroleum Gross Earnings Tax rate increase; and
• Tax excess profits of electricity generators.

Better Choices for Connecticut supporters are encouraged to attend a Better Choices News Conference and Advocacy Day on Wednesday, March 17 at 10 a.m. in Room 1A at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford. At this event, Better Choices will release a report outlining options for modernizing Connecticut’s revenue system while closing our state’s budget deficit.

Better Choices for Connecticut, a statewide coalition advocating for revenue solutions, criticized Governor Rell and her latest budget proposal for failing to make the tough decisions that will make Connecticut more fiscally sound. By using one-time money to plug the hole in fiscal year 2011 and not including revenues as part of the solution, she is simply creating a larger budget deficit for fiscal years 2012 and 2013 that will have devastating effects on middle- and low-income families.