[hucareshokiesrul]

CT brings in the second most in taxes per capita, due in large part to having affluent taxpayers. How does CT spend that money compared to other states? I know we have good schools with comparatively high teacher salaries. What else does the state do with that extra money?

I don't want this to devolve into a partisan argument. I'm just wondering how CT's state spending compares to to other states'.

[MrGompers]

Originally Posted by hucareshokiesrul

CT brings in the second most in taxes per capita, due in large part to having affluent taxpayers. How does CT spend that money compared to other states? I know we have good schools with comparatively high teacher salaries. What else does the state do with that extra money?

I don't want this to devolve into a partisan argument. I'm just wondering how CT's state spending compares to to other states'.

I don't think you will get a non partisan answer, but if you're really curious I suppose you can look at CT's budget and compare it to other states' budgets. I think you would have to make adjustments based on population too, so you may have to drill down to "per capita stats"

[CTartist&musician]

Originally Posted by hucareshokiesrul

CT brings in the second most in taxes per capita, due in large part to having affluent taxpayers. How does CT spend that money compared to other states? I know we have good schools with comparatively high teacher salaries. What else does the state do with that extra money?

I don't want this to devolve into a partisan argument. I'm just wondering how CT's state spending compares to to other states'.

I believe that a few of the things that CT has as opposed to states that tax less is more services and programs for the disabled, poor and elderly of CT. I think that is a very good thing. It seems to me CT is a very benevolent and caring state.

BTW, this is a non-partisan answer as I am a Centrist and have been an Independent all of my adult life.

[HeadedWest]

Originally Posted by CTartist&musician

I believe that a few of the things that CT has as opposed to states that tax less is more services and programs for the disabled, poor and elderly of CT. I think that is a very good thing. It seems to me CT is a very benevolent and caring state.

A lot of it is going for pensions and retiree health care.

[mlassoff]

Originally Posted by HeadedWest

A lot of it is going for pensions and retiree health care.

And pensions. The ONLY reason we are in budgetary trouble is retiree health care and state pension obligations. When the system came in to being you retired at 65 and croaked at 70. Now people live to be 90 and we're paying benefits all those years.

Or as someone wiser than me put it: "We're paying for a current police department, one that retired within the last 20 years, one that retired 20 years ago and some that retired 40 years ago..."

[CTartist&musician]

Originally Posted by mlassoff

And pensions. The ONLY reason we are in budgetary trouble is retiree health care and state pension obligations. When the system came in to being you retired at 65 and croaked at 70. Now people live to be 90 and we're paying benefits all those years.

Or as someone wiser than me put it: "We're paying for a current police department, one that retired within the last 20 years, one that retired 20 years ago and some that retired 40 years ago..."

I am sure that is true and that certainly needs to be addressed. But all of the other states have people getting healthcare and pension for years also I would assume.

Here is something anecdotal about my neighborhood in Trumbull. My husband and I (both in the private sector all our lives) will need to move away in retirement because we won't be able to afford the taxes. Most of my neighbors also move in retirement. All of my elderly neighbors who have stayed here have either worked for a local or state government.

[SeaDoo342]

One thing I have to say is our roads are in really good shape for being a northeastern state…

I was in RI and southeast MA this weekend and DAMN, the roads are in crap shape. That and the sides of the roads are all overgrown and just look ugly. This is even in the nicer areas. Once we got back into CT it was a huge difference. Made me appreciate it more...

[MrGompers]

Originally Posted by SeaDoo342

One thing I have to say is our roads are in really good shape for being a northeastern state…

I was in RI and southeast MA this weekend and DAMN, the roads are in crap shape. That and the sides of the roads are all overgrown and just look ugly. This is even in the nicer areas. Once we got back into CT it was a huge difference. Made me appreciate it more...

That isn't much to brag about since IMO Rhode Island has the worst roads in the country. The roads are so bad you actually have to drive slow, especially in Providence.

[SeaDoo342]

Originally Posted by MrGompers

That isn't much to brag about since IMO Rhode Island has the worst roads in the country. The roads are so bad you actually have to drive slow, especially in Providence.

Yeah but even in Mass, the nicer Boston suburbs, the roads weren't up to par of CT suburbs. Not sure if its the state or the towns that are lacking..

[basehead617]

Ballotpedia seems to have some good numbers.

Texas spends twice as high a % of its total budget on K-12 education as Connecticut does. Connecticut's 'Other' which includes pensions, is 300% of Texas's.

On the other hand, Connecticut's per capita spending is almost double that of Texas.

Connecticut state budget and finances - Ballotpedia
Texas state budget and finances - Ballotpedia