April 4, 2019
Statement from Gian-Carl Casa, President & CEO of CT Community Nonprofit Alliance on H.B. 7408, a bill that would require nonprofits to pay a fee to municipalities for providing road maintenance and police, fire, and emergency services [section 6] which was raised today by the Finance Committee:
“After more than a decade of flat funding and drastic cuts to vital services, it would be unconscionable to allow municipalities to charge community-based nonprofits a tax disguised as a service fee.
“To be clear: this proposal would take money from programs for people with developmental disabilities, as well as those for people struggling with substance abuse, trying to escape domestic violence, or rebuilding their lives after incarceration. In effect, this bill would have community nonprofits pay municipal taxes using state funding and private donations.
“Community nonprofits provide services so government doesn’t have to — and they do not charge municipalities a fee to serve their residents.
“The underlying issue here is the lack of municipal revenue. The solution is to reform the property tax system, not take desperately needed funding from services for some of the state’s most vulnerable citizens.
“Connecticut is a state with a bipartisan big heart for those in need. This proposal would be a retreat from the type of caring society the people of our state want. We urge the committee to reject this damaging proposal.”
Contact: Patty McQueen 860-985-3533