Despite overall higher income taxes in New York than in Connecticut, some families face a higher tax burden in Connecticut.

This calculation works thanks to the New York Child Tax Credit, which Connecticut Voices for Children is proposing the state to adopt. The nonprofit’s director of research and policy, Lauren Ruth, and research and policy fellow Patrick O’Brien joined WNHH FM’s “The Municipal Voice” to discuss their support for the tax credit and more.

The Municipal Voice is produced by the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities.

CT Voices supports the $ 600 per child tax credit in the revenue package that was recently adopted by the Joint Finance, Income and Surety Committee of the General Assembly.

According to O’Brien, this will bring Connecticut “more in tune with the vast majority of states,” rather than stepping into new ground. Only four states that have a personal income tax on salary income do not have some form of child tax credit – Missouri, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut.

Admitting that it is getting a bit wobbly, O’Brien noted that contrary to popular belief, most Connecticut residents do not head entirely to tax havens like Florida. Most move to similar states with high tax burdens like New York.

They argue that the child tax credit will alleviate some of the emigration. It also produces “more than $ 1.00 in economic output” for every dollar lost through the tax cut, they said.

Overall, Connecticut has a regressive tax system, placing an inordinate burden on the middle class to support and fund programs. CT Voices argues that the state must reverse this equation and make it a progressive tax system.

This is not surprising given that CT Voices counts equity as one of its primary platforms.

Ruth has expressed support for House Bill 661 and Senate Bill 1024, both of which support the development of affordable housing in the state.

“80% of Connecticut’s low-income, subsidized housing stock is located in just 15 of 169 cities,” said Ruth. “Of the 473 available units, more than 55% of them were located in 12 cities […] and 12, it’s not much to support the weight.

As the name suggests, CT Voices focuses on what’s best for Connecticut kids – issues like child tax credits and affordable housing, as well as issues like child care. universal and criminal justice reform.

That’s not to say they only get support from one side of the aisle.

“Because our mission is to make Connecticut prosperous and fair for children, we often work with lawmakers from Connecticut’s two major political parties,” said Ruth, “children are a predominantly non-partisan topic.”