Budget & Taxes

This bill allows Connecticut municipalities to waive or refund interest on delinquent property taxes owed by large common interest communities that are in court-ordered receivership. To qualify for this relief, a community must have more than 500 units and be under a Superior Court order placing it in receivership, with the decision to grant the waiver or refund made by a local legislative vote. The provision applies to both unpaid interest on overdue taxes and interest that has already been paid by the community. If enacted, municipalities would lose potential revenue or incur costs depending on whether they choose to abate future interest or refund past payments.

This bill establishes the "Federal Cuts Response Fund" to help the state address reductions in federal funding for state programs. It transfers $330,811,954 from the state's Budget Reserve Fund into this new fund, which can be used by the Office of Policy and Management to respond to federal policy changes (like P.L. 119-21) that reduce funding for state programs. Unspent funds can carry over to the next fiscal year, but the state legislature must be notified of all spending or transfers and has 24 hours to disapprove any action. Any remaining balance in the fund must be returned to the Budget Reserve Fund by June 30, 2027, ending the fund's operation.

This resolution approves an arbitration award between Connecticut's Judicial Branch and three employee unions: SEIU Local 2001, the International Brotherhood of Police Officers, and the Union of Professional Judicial Employees. The award includes a 2.5% general wage increase effective July 2025, annual increments for employees, and lump-sum payments, impacting judicial branch salaries and benefits. The agreement costs approximately $8.07 million in fiscal year 2026 and $8.60 million in 2027, with retroactive application to July 1, 2025. It directly affects over 1,000 judicial employees represented by these unions through adjusted compensation.