There’s growing concern about the future of children across Connecticut. That’s according to advocates and state House Speaker Matthew Ritter, who gathered at the annual Connecticut Voices for Children state budget forum.
In May of 2022, Connecticut funded the first-ever state-level child tax rebate, allocating $250 per child for families under certain income thresholds. But that rebate is set to expire.
Ritter says he wants to maintain stability and predictability for these families who need more help. He wants to see the tax rebate extended, find a way for it to be sustainable and provide the right amount of relief to working families.
Emily Byrne, executive director of Connecticut Voices for Children, spoke on the importance of government decisions and how they will impact future generations of children.
“More than ever, the choices being made today by those in elected office will determine the choices our children are able to make in the future,” Byrne said. “We’re at a precipice that if we’re not careful, we could intentionally or unintentionally set back an entire generation of Connecticut residents.”
In the coming year, officials hope to see a permanent change in the budget and offer more support to struggling families throughout the state.
Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly identified the benefit as a "child tax credit." Connecticut provided a child tax rebate in 2022.