‘Connecticut left us’
State government spending driven by outrageously generous, unsustainable union contracts
Longtime residents explain why they’ve retired elsewhere. “It was sad to leave a state we had called home our entire lives. But (what) we once knew — the vibrant economy and the rational oasis between New York and Massachusetts
— is no more.”
Afew weeks ago, we packed a lifetime of belongings and moved out of Connecticut. It was sad to leave a state we had called home our entire lives. But the Connecticut we once knew — the vibrant economy and the rational oasis between New York and Massachusetts — is no more.
So in a sense, we didn’t leave Connecticut so much as Connecticut left us.
We are the retirees whom Connecticut would be smart to retain. We worked hard to build successful careers. We raised well-educated, successful children. We built homes — beautiful homes — in Glastonbury, where we lived for 35 years, that contributed to the property tax base that supported a wonderful community. We were among the top 10% of earners who paid the majority of Connecticut’s income taxes. We were the good citizens who voted in every state and local election.
But Connecticut’s political class has made it clear that people like us are no longer welcomed. They have created an environment that is hostile toward business, resulting in anemic long-term economic growth. Simultaneously, they have grown state government spending at a faster pace, driven by outrageously generous and unsustainable state employee union contracts.
Faced with this disconnect of slow growth in the tax base together with faster growth in state spending, political leaders have targeted families like us to close the gap. Despite the fact that a small minority of citizens essentially fund the entire state budget, they claim we aren’t paying our “fair share” and should pay more.
We resent this false claim and the implied characterization of us as freeloaders who are the problem. Because we were unsuccessful in voicing our displeasure at the ballot box, we decided to vote with our feet.
And we have encouraged our children to do the same. Our hope is that they choose to build their lives in a state with a vibrant economy: with businesses moving in rather than leaving, with growth in employment and income, and with rising rather than the declining real estate values we have faced.
The twin demographic trends — retirees and
Connecticut’s political class has made it clear that people like us are no longer welcomed. They have created an environment that is hostile toward business, resulting in anemic long-term economic growth.
young people leaving Connecticut — ought to ring alarms at the state capitol. Unfortunately, the political agenda of the new governor and legislature is simply more of the same. After decades of demonstrably failed policies, we had hoped for a different outcome that held the prospect for a new direction. But like many, we viewed the most recent state election as a tipping point.
If a shift in political direction did not occur after eight years of the most unpopular governor in the nation, would change ever occur?
Change will likely happen someday when Connecticut’s citizens or the financial markets upon which Connecticut relies determine that enough is enough. Change will not occur without an end to collective bargaining by public employee unions. The fact that public employee unions elect politicians with whom they later negotiate contracts represents an unambiguous conflict of interest that is at the root of Connecticut’s problem.
Think about it: Would you get bigger raises if you were responsible for your boss’ continued employment?
Additionally, the income tax needs to be broadened. The current tax structure exempts a large swath of citizens from paying any income tax. That’s a bad thing for good governance. Everyone ought to have skin in the game so that the burden of economic decisions made by politicians affects everyone, not just a few.
We moved to a town in New Hampshire that reminds us of Glastonbury. It has a nice rural/suburban mix of agriculture and wonderful farm stands, combined with easy access to all the conveniences of daily shopping and living. Like Glastonbury, there is a high quality of life here.
We were the first to make a deposit with the real estate agent at the initial open house in the new 55+ development we found. By the time we left, there was a line of people waiting to make deposits. We saw a large number of blue Connecticut license plates, and we looked forward to the prospect of sharing common bonds with these new friends.
But most of all, we wished it didn’t have to be so.