One Democrat votes against Malloy tax refund proposal

HARTFORD, Conn. – Rep. Ted Moukawsher of Groton was the lone Democrat on the Finance, Revenue, and Bonding Committee Tuesday to vote against the governor’s $155 million election-year tax refund.

The money for the refund would come from the 2014 surplus, which was certified by state Comptroller Kevin Lembo Tuesday at about $504.9 million.

The final vote was 31-19 in favor of the proposal. Moukawsher joined Republicans in voting against it partly because of Lembo’s analysis of the current budget.

Lembo warned Gov. Dannel P. Malloy in his monthly letter that most of the 2014 surplus comes from “a one-time tax amnesty program, and from the most volatile component of the income tax, which relies on strong stock market performance.” He also reminded the governor that the legislature’s Office of Fiscal Analysis and the Office of Policy and Management has estimated budget shortfalls beginning in 2016.

“That’s unfortunate that we’re not seeing ourselves in deficit,” Moukawsher said referring to the more than $1 billion deficit in fiscal year 2016.

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