Rep. Buck-Taylor outlines New Milford economic development with town officials
June 18, 2013NEW MILFORD – State Representative Cecilia Buck-Taylor, R-New Milford, sat down with town officials Monday morning to outline economic development legislation that passed through the General Assembly this year, and to discuss ways to move forward and encourage economic growth in town.
Representative Buck-Taylor, who recently completed her first year of a freshman two-year term in the State Legislature, met with New Milford Economic Development Supervisor Luigi Fulinello and Economic Development Commissioner and Town Council Member, Pete Bass, to outline major business bills during the 2013 session. From the biennium state budget to minimum wage hikes, they all discussed plans for moving the 67th Assembly District – which encompasses the vast portion of New Milford – and the region, forward.
“Luigi, Peter and I have worked together previously while I sat on the Town Council as vice-chair. This meeting was a way for us to brainstorm new ideas and look at the legislation that will impact this community,” Representative Buck-Taylor said. “There were a lot of bills that went through the State Legislature that were anti-business and will impact our town’s economic growth. But we can work through it and find new ways to bring business to New Milford. It won’t be easy, but that’s why I’m serving: to solve problems and make life better for my constituents.”
The 2013 session saw a law enacted that increases the hourly minimum wage from $8.25 to $8.70 on January 1, 2014 and from $8.70 to $9 on January 1, 2015. It also increases the “tip credit” in each of those years to keep the employer’s share of hotel and wait staff’s hourly wages at its current $5.69, and bartenders’ hourly wages at its current $7.34. The two-year state budget passed by the Democratic majority reinstates business taxes that were scheduled to sunset this year, adding more costs for the already over-burdened and over-regulated companies.
“New Milford is a hub of business and we want to keep it that way,” said Representative Buck-Taylor, who sits on the Legislature’s Finance, Environment and Judiciary committees. “Our goal is to ensure the business community has a friendly place to set up shop and to provide services to all of Connecticut and bordering states. New Milford, with an estimated 28,000 residents, has an active, picturesque downtown filled with shops, restaurants and arts and entertainment. Its corridor along Route 7 gives locals and those passing through an opportunity to enjoy the best of Connecticut, including the Housatonic River. We want to ensure New Milford remains one of the most attractive towns in CT not only to live in but also in which businesses can prosper.