Malloy cancels $55 tax rebate

HARTFORD – Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s planned election year tax rebate has become a victim of a shortfall in tax collections, his budget chief announced this morning.

In a letter to lawmakers, Malloy’s budget chief Ben Barnes said that any surplus will now go into the state’s emergency reserves.

“We do not anticipate enough revenue to provide a tax refund or to make a supplemental pension payment, as we had hoped in January,” Barnes said. “The Governor has instructed me to negotiate a balanced budget for next year that continues to invest in our highest priorities, including public education and job creation, and to do it without raising taxes. This will require some significant changes to our plans and expectations. The Governor and I look forward to working with you to accomplish our shared goals.”