State Representatives Visit Bethel

State representatives visited Bethel Thursday night to speak to residents about Governor Dannel Malloy’s state budget and Connecticut’s looming deficit.

Speaking to a crowd of about 50 people at Bethel Middle School were State Representatives David Scribner and Dan Carter along with State Senators Toni Boucher and Michael McLachlan. Topics and issues covered included new tax proposals made by Malloy, unemployment, education and concerns about government spending.

Scribner said the purpose of the town hall meeting, in addition to collecting feedback from residents, was to keep the constituents in Bethel well-informed with happenings in Hartford.

“We believe that it’s important that we share as much information with the public that we serve as possible,” Scribner said. “We want you to be informed.”

After a brief introduction by Bethel Selectman Paul Szatkowki, Rep. Scribner began a PowerPoint presentation with a graph that showed the increase in state spending since 1987 despite the state’s population staying relatively flat. State spending grew from $1,509 per person to $5,364, a rate far outpacing inflation.

Carter addressed the audience next, describing where taxpayers go with helpful charts and graphs.

“Congratulations,” he said sarcastically when pointing out that Connecticut has the nation’s highest total state and local taxes ($7,007) per capita and the second highest gas taxes and cost of electricity.

Boucher took the time to explain some of Malloy’s proposed new taxes in the state budget. The audience was in agreement when she opposed the majority of these taxes, especially those on services such as car washes, haircuts and pet grooming.

“It’s important to understand where we’re headed,” she said.  “We don’t want to be picked out as the only state to have those new taxes.”

McLachlan used his time to present possible solutions to their perceived holes in Malloy’s budget, including common sense policies such as "spend no more than you make," and the importance of the state government’s responsibility to empower local governments to make local decisions.

“We have to get out of the way of local governments to provide local services on the front line,” he said.

In the question and answer session following the representatives’ PowerPoint presentation, Bethel resident Dan Gaita raised the issue of unemployment. As Boucher noted, for the first time in history, Connecticut’s unemployment rate (9 percent) is higher than the national average.

McLachlan addressed Gaita’s concern by adding that the unemployment numbers don’t tell the whole truth; it may actually worse than statistics suggest.

“What we’re not hearing anyone talk about is underemployment,” McLachlan explained.  “Someone gets laid off, and while they may find another job, they’re now supporting their family on one-third of the salary they used to.”

Resident Paul Imprata, who runs an independent insurance agency based in Bethel, expressed his fear of people – and their businesses – fleeing the state for good. Carter was on the same page.

“Some people think that businesses will just take it,” Carter said, explaining that there are two schools of thought when it comes to increased taxes on small business owners. “Then there are those of us who know they’ll up and leave.”

Although much of the discussion focused on the representatives’ bleak projections of Connecticut’s future should Malloy’s budget be passed into law, residents appreciated the ability to connect with government officials on such a personal level.

“I think it’s fantastic,” Gaita said as the event was letting out.  “They’re giving us the information we need to make better decisions.”