WFSB 3 Connecticut

Mike LaPorte
Live Wire Marketing/Advertising Director

Governor Dannel P. Malloy announced that he is proposing a cut to the state sales tax in 2015 and again in 2016. Currently, the state sales tax is 6.35%. Malloy is proposing a cut to 6.2% for 2015, and 5.95% for 2016.

The announcement was made in an exclusive interview on WFSB’s Sunday morning political talk show, “Face the State with Dennis House.” In the interview, Governor Malloy said that he had not spoken to any members of the state legislature about the proposal, and that “Face the State” is the first place anyone has heard of the plan.

According to the governor, if the proposal goes through, 5.95% will be the “lowest the sales tax has been since 1971.” To cover for the financial losses the state will incur, “some exemptions on the business side” would be cut, said Malloy.

The state sales tax has been at 6.35% since 2011, when Malloy passed the largest tax increase in state history. Now, Malloy says he is cutting the sales tax in an effort to ease a financial burden on the middle class.

The sales tax cut will be extremely beneficial for Manchester Community College students, who already pay enough money to not only stay in school, but also cover living expenses. More money will be able to remain in the pockets of students, which they can save or spend on other items.

The sales tax cut will be a part of Malloy’s budget for the coming fiscal year. Click on the video above for the exclusive interview.