CT HB05044

Reduces net General Fund appropriations for FY 2016-2017 from approximately $18.71 billion to $18.14 billion, a decrease of roughly $569 million, with cuts spread across nearly all state agencies including education, human services, corrections, and public safety.

Increases net Special Transportation Fund appropriations from approximately $1.496 billion to $1.525 billion, adding $26.8 million for school transportation previously funded through the General Fund and $14.1 million for the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (fleet purchases and personnel).

Restructures several agencies and programs, including separating the Elections Enforcement Commission, Office of State Ethics, and Freedom of Information Commission from the Office of Governmental Accountability into standalone budget entities, and eliminating the Commission on Aging as a separate line item.

Reduces Education Equalization Grants (ECS) from $2.172 billion to $2.018 billion and cuts reimbursements to towns for loss of taxes on state property from $83.6 million to $67.3 million, while specifying town-by-town payment schedules for both state property and private tax-exempt property PILOT programs.

Transfers $700,000 from the Tobacco and Health Trust Fund to the General Fund and $750,000 to the Department of Social Services for autism services, while eliminating a previously authorized FY 2017 trust fund transfer for asthma programs.