HARTFORD, Conn. (WTIC Radio) - Senate Republican Leader Kevin Kelly is calling out Democrats for failing to ease the financial burdens of residents with claims that the state is failing to fully reimburse towns for revenue losses related to the new mill rate cap on motor vehicle property taxes.
"The Governor and legislative Democrats failed to fully reimburse all towns for revenue losses associated with the state's new car tax cap, shortchanging towns, and making residents pick up the tab," Kelly said in a written statement.
According to Kelly, towns like his hometown of Stratford are being shortchanged over $450,000.
While highlighting the 32.46 mill rate cap in Hartford, Speaker of the House Matt Ritter said he was not aware of any communities not getting their reimbursement.
"He'd have to provide evidence of that," Ritter said in response. "I'm not aware of any municipality that has written to us or through CCM... that they're not getting full reimbursement. So, if they have facts, we'll certainly look at it, but I'm not aware of that situation."
According to Kelly, taxpayers are now taking on the financial burden of these losses, given that the state is only reimbursing towns for lost revenue based on the previous year's car tax revenue, not the current year.
He also pointed out in his statement that families that need the most help aren't getting the most relief, because the mill rate cap mostly benefits people who own more expensive luxury vehicles.
This is something Ritter reaffirmed when using the city of Hartford as an example when promoting the tax cut Monday.
The most commonly owned cars in Hartford, Ritter said, are the 2010 Toyota Corolla and Camry.
"If you own those cars, you will save about $70 this fiscal year. If you're lucky to have a newer car, like a 2020 Toyota Rav or a 2021 Ford Explorer, your savings will be between $250 and $300 this fiscal year," he said.
Kelly is calling on the state to do better and to further ease financial burdens for residents.
"That's why CT Republicans are pushing for a special session, to deliver far greater relief to working- and middle-class families, to deliver assistance to those who need it most and who have no relief in sight," he said in his statement.
Republicans that are against the governor's tax cut package, including this mill rate cap, just want a do-over, according to Ritter.
"Why have you heard calls for special sessions to do things that are precarious because they violate federal law and we'd have to win lawsuits to enact them? Why all these announcements from a guy running for governor who has never served a day of public office in his life? Because they voted no! And they want a re-do. That's all I can think of from a common sense perspective," Ritter said.
In early June, Governor Candidate Bob Stefanowski released a statement with his plan to help ease the financial burden on residents.
"My plan to help right now is to cut the sales tax, suspend state taxes on gasoline and diesel, eliminate Ned Lamont’s new tax on restaurants and prepared foods and trucks and eliminate the over $400 million small business tax," Stefanowski wrote.