[MrGompers]

Originally Posted by RunD1987

What if CT did away with their income tax and replaced it with a consumption tax. In addition to, a land value tax in lieu of property tax. Lowered gas tax or did away with excess tax on gas. A town/city tax for schools for individuals 65 and younger owning property in that city/town. A car property tax capped at 30% and a flat corporation/business tax rate of 5% in CT. No additional state taxes outside of excess tax on alcohol and cigarettes.

Just to address your first point. We already have a consumption tax its called the sales tax. If the tax is raised too much people will just shift their purchases to other states. Which is especially easy to do here because CT is a small state.

If you want to have some fun next time you're in New Hampshire especially on the southern border count how many out of state plates you see in the parking lot of every shopping plaza or mall. Its at least 75%.

[RunD1987]

My bad meant a used and sales tax. I know some towns were trying in CT land value tax.

[East of the River]

In CT to eliminate corporate and income tax you would need a sales tax of 15% that's if sales stay the same and don't tank (which they would due to both cross border buying and people reducing consumption).
If the states around us had huge 10% sales tax it might be feasible but not at current levels. Land value tax is interesting but I'm pretty sure it would drive down income for the towns not something they would want.

[BobNJ1960]

Originally Posted by MrGompers

This vote doesn't surprise me at all. I wonder how much of a pay cut the white collar and executives are taking. I highly doubt its 25%

Good luck getting quality employees at these new rates. After the current crop of employees retire Sikorsky will just become a revolving door of new employees. Putting together choppers requires more skill then putting together hamburgers. So good luck with that.

It will still be a very competitive rate, far better than most neighboring manufacturing.

[MrGompers]

Originally Posted by BobNJ1960

It will still be a very competitive rate, far better than most neighboring manufacturing.

I don't think so according to wage data collected by the state as of 2013 on page 10.
https://www.ctdol.state.ct.us/OWC/CE...cy%20Ariel.pdf

The entry level pay ranges from 11.26 to 15.79 per hour. They just gave these workers a 25% haircut so that reduces wages to 8.44 to 11.84. The current minimum wage is 9.60 and goes to 10.10 as of Jan 2017.

These wages are not competitive in the least unless you are comparing to McDonalds or Walmart.
On top of that people don't have to go to school for training to work at McDonalds or Walmart.

I hope that I'm wrong, because these starting wages are a joke.

Sikorsky is a partner with Housatonic Community College

[JayCT]

Originally Posted by MrGompers

I don't think so according to wage data collected by the state as of 2013 on page 10.
https://www.ctdol.state.ct.us/OWC/CE...cy%20Ariel.pdf

The entry level pay ranges from 11.26 to 15.79 per hour. They just gave these workers a 25% haircut so that reduces wages to 8.44 to 11.84. The current minimum wage is 9.60 and goes to 10.10 as of Jan 2017.

These wages are not competitive in the least unless you are comparing to McDonalds or Walmart.
On top of that people don't have to go to school for training to work at McDonalds or Walmart.

I hope that I'm wrong, because these starting wages are a joke.

Sikorsky is a partner with Housatonic Community College

The market place will correct those salaries fast. IF people have a choice they will likely go for the higher wages. I think Sikorsky will be in for a rude awakening if they try to get skilled workers at those wages. Remember Pratt & Whitney and Electric Boat are also looking for skilled workers, as are many of the area subcontractors. There will be some competition for them for sure. Jay

[RunD1987]

There's employers who hire individuals with bachelor's degrees for $10 an hour in CT. Less focus on the companies more focus on CT lowering it's COL.

[East of the River]

Originally Posted by RunD1987

There's employers who hire individuals with bachelor's degrees for $10 an hour in CT. Less focus on the companies more focus on CT lowering it's COL.

You have to do both. If we have good employment and high wage earners COL almost always goes up, like rent grocery prices etc.

[Mr_250]

Something interesting came up today, reported by CTMirror, regarding the new budget. Apparently on sept 20 Lembo gave his monthly report and stated that the budget, which started July 1, is on track to be balanced. Great to hear.

Unfortunately he might have been wrong. A memo sent on Sept 6 to all department heads stated a deficit of $133million already.

Is it possible Malloy is holding out on some information until after November? I hear a lot from reliable sources who say come November be prepared for a tax or fee increase and large cuts to every department. Wish people would just tell us the truth so we all could prepare.

[RunD1987]

Originally Posted by East of the River

You have to do both. If we have good employment and high wage earners COL almost always goes up, like rent grocery prices etc.

Could lower housing by the State working with developers to build government funded affordable housing, fix mortgage rates, do away with income tax, fix corporate tax, lower tuition cost, give tax breaks to employers who have tuition reimbursement plans, clean house in the upper levels of the State government, give the $600 million back to the State Hospitals, legalize Marijuana put an excess tax on it, and create a livable wage.

http://livingwage.mit.edu/

Lower property tax in the cities and raise property tax outside of CT cities to balace out at 40 Mill Rate. Eliminate car tax and tax renters 15% of yearly rent. Give property owners tax breaks and don't have to pay property tax on property leasing out.