Resource Center
The Resource Center contains all reports and materials created by the School and State Finance Project as well as a wide collection of reports, publications, and data from Connecticut and national sources. All original content produced by the School and State Finance Project is labeled as such. Materials produced by sources outside the organization are labeled accordingly in the title of resource.
To navigate through the Resource Center, use the keyword search below or browse by selecting specific categories or years using the appropriate drop-down menus. To view all resources in the Resource Center, simply leave each search and category function blank and click the Search button.
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Funding for K-12 Education in the CARES Act
May 19, 2020
School + State Finance Project Original Content
On March 27, 2020, in response to the coronavirus pandemic, President Donald Trump signed into law the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). The CARES Act is a $2.2 trillion package that provides emergency financial assistance to: individuals; state, local, and tribal governments; nonprofit organizations, including healthcare providers; and for-profit businesses. This policy briefing and FAQ document summarize the provisions of the CARES Act that impact elementary and secondary education in the United States, and details the $138.8 million the State of Connecticut is due to receive from the federal government in formulaic grant assistance to help the State and local educational agencies (LEAs) respond to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
Connecticut Economy & State Finance 101
May 12, 2020
School + State Finance Project Original Content
This presentation from the School and State Finance Project covers the basics of what an economy is, and how Connecticut's economy and its state budget interact and impact one another. The presentation also explores how choices impact the economy and what affects Connecticut's economic policy decisions.
State Fiscal Oversight of Connecticut Municipalities
Mar 25, 2020
School + State Finance Project Original Content
The State of Connecticut recently increased the level of oversight and monitoring of the finances of its 169 municipalities with the creation of the tiering system in 2017. The tiering system categorizes fiscally distressed municipalities based on their fiscal health and stability. The level of oversight and involvement by a designated statutorily created board increases as the fiscal health of a given municipality is deemed less secure. This policy briefing details this oversight, discusses the boards that oversee and work with municipalities, and examines the authority granted to these boards to improve the fiscal health of municipal finances.
Distributing Non-Education State Aid to Municipalities through a Needs-Capacity Formula
Mar 2, 2020
School + State Finance Project Original Content
The State of Connecticut contains 169 towns with a wide range of wealth and resident need. Currently, the State of Connecticut provides financial aid to towns through a variety of statutory and non-statutory grant programs. The current structure for non-education town aid does not sufficiently address the underlying municipal fiscal disparities that are caused by the unequal costs of delivering services and the low revenue raising capacity of towns in Connecticut. The purpose of this policy briefing is to introduce and examine how Connecticut can address municipal fiscal disparities by using a needs-capacity formula to distribute non-education town aid.
FAQs: Proposal to Shift a Portion of CT’s Income Tax to a Payroll Tax
Jul 30, 2019
School + State Finance Project Original Content
This frequently asked questions document addresses many of the questions that have been raised surrounding the payroll tax proposed and designed by the Connecticut School Finance Project, which would serve as a partial replacement for the state income tax and help reduce individual and business tax burdens as well as mitigate the impact of recent federal tax changes on Connecticut taxpayers.
State Employee Bargaining Agent Coalition (SEBAC) Agreements
Jul 31, 2017
The State Employees Bargaining Agent Coalition (SEBAC) is made up of 15 public sector employee unions representing roughly 46,000 Connecticut state employees. SEBAC was recognized in 1986 under Conn. Acts 86-411 to negotiate with the State on healthcare and pension benefits for its individual unions’ active members, as well as retirees.
Reports on State Financial Operations - State Treasurer (Auditors of Public Accounts)
Dec 31, 2019
Annual report from Connecticut's Auditors of Public Accounts looking at "financial statements and certain other information of the Treasurer of the State of Connecticut as they pertain to the central accounting of state financial operations."
Connecticut State Budget Process (Office of Fiscal Analysis)
Feb 6, 2019
Presentation and flowchart from the Connecticut General Assembly's Office of Fiscal Analysis explaining how Connecticut's state budget process and cycle works.
Governor Lamont's State Budget Proposal for FYs 2020 and 2021 (Office of Policy and Management)
Feb 20, 2019
On Wednesday, February 20, 2019, Governor Ned Lamont presented his biennial state budget proposal for fiscal years 2020 and 2021 to the Connecticut General Assembly. This resource contains the governor's budget documents.
Connecticut Tax Incidence Report (Department of Revenue Services)
Dec 1, 2014
Tax incidence is a method of analysis that examines the impact of taxation. This tax incidence report from Connecticut's Department of Revenue Services (DRS) examines the impact of taxes on Connecticut households, analyzes the "results of the interplay of tax impacts," and provides an overview of Connecticut's tax environment. The report analyses the overall incidence of the Personal Income Tax, Sales and Excise Taxes, Corporation Business Tax, Property Tax, Gift and Estate Tax, Insurance Taxes, and the Real Estate Conveyance Tax — in addition to analyzing each tax separately.