Since 2017, Connecticut’s finances have been defined by the fiscal guardrails—a series of statues controlling spending. Created in a time of crisis, they were emergency measures to improve CT’s financial health. They filled the Rainy Day Fund, paid down longstanding pension debt, and improved CT’s credit rating. These are important achievements—but they have come at a profound social cost.
For many years, services and programs historically provided by the state have been outsourced to nonprofits who are asked to do more with less. Mental health, workforce training, addiction recovery, youth services, elder care, support for disabled adults, and other essential services are being consistently underfunded. Because of this systemic underinvestment, our state’s social infrastructure is crumbling, and our communities are suffering the consequences.
When we advocate for increased funding for critical human needs, the response from our elected leaders is, “There’s no money.” Why? Because billions of dollars that could be invested in our communities are being withheld by the guardrails instead. The fiscal roadblocks solve a problem we’re no longer facing, and in doing so, block future progress. Especially in light of impending federal cuts, it is imperative that our state stop underfunding essential services. It’s time to reform and restructure the fiscal roadblocks.
To learn more about the fiscal guardrails and how they are starving our communities of necessary resources, check out this fact sheet.
GHIAA has endorsed the Connecticut For All statement of principles for fiscal reform. You can view the principles online here.
