Utilize Connecticut’s economic potential

As the budget drama continues, it’s critical lawmakers steer away from the business-as-usual approach.

It’s been three weeks since Governor Malloy started running the state’s finances. Three weeks since lawmakers failed to agree upon a state budget. Three weeks since businesses and state residents were left wondering — what’s next?

The June 30 deadline loomed for months, and while not easy — tough choices were and continue to be necessary. Connecticut residents and businesses need stability and predictability to make decisions about their future. Lawmakers must give them confidence Connecticut is going in the right direction.

As the budget discussions move forward, it’s critical that lawmakers steer away from the business-as-usual approach to solving a problem. That means avoiding a patchwork spending package that cobbles together cuts, one-time savings, borrowing, fund sweeps, and myriad sources of new revenue to achieve a budget that appears balanced — for now.

History has proven this approach doesn’t work. In fact, it makes things worse.

Jobs are growing in Connecticut and many companies are expanding. We also have great potential for future growth in advanced manufacturing and many other industries. But we must make the right decisions now to take full advantage of our opportunities. Otherwise, we risk future jobs going elsewhere.

Our economy needs a budget it can grow on. Connecticut’s workforce and the businesses they work for are paying more attention to the budget debate than they have in years. They want a bipartisan solution, not caring whose name is on the budget but rather, what’s in it.

Connecticut runs the risk of falling further behind states that have outpaced us in economic growth and job creation if we don’t immediately find sustainable solutions to our fiscal problems.

So what can lawmakers do? They can start by crafting a state budget that changes how Connecticut government does business.

Governor Malloy deserves credit for standing against broadbased tax increases. Republicans have put forward thoughtful approaches to balancing the budget without harmful tax increases. Many Democrats have expressed opposition to proposals that would make Connecticut more expensive and less competitive.

But this debate isn’t just about taxes, it’s about how we spend taxpayer dollars.

Our state agencies must partner with private, nonprofit providers to deliver state services to a much greater extent than in the past. By converting many health and human services currently delivered by the state to nonprofit providers, the state can save $1.24 billion over five years.

The budget must make structural reforms to state employees’ pensions and benefits to make them much more affordable for Connecticut’s hard working taxpayers and in line with public employees in neighboring states.

The budget must require state government to aggressively implement lean and other efficiency measures and ensure that it delivers the highest-quality services at the lowest possible costs.

Connecticut’s budget crisis has an impact beyond taxes and stability. It impacts our ability to focus on other issues—like workforce development and infrastructure—at the level we need to in order to remain competitive.

Although other states are fiscally challenged to varying degrees, by and large they have moved ahead and turned their focus to building again: to recruiting and training talent, improving education systems, and upgrading infrastructure. It is more critical than ever that we begin to put our fiscal problems behind us.

Connecticut simply can’t afford another business-as-usual state budget.

Regardless of industry or interest, we all have a stake in getting this right. A vibrant, healthy economy means more opportunities for everyone.

But in order to get there, we must work together, think boldly, and build a brighter future for Connecticut.