State Treasurer Shawn T. Wooden announced today that Standard & Poor’s has elevated its outlook on Connecticut’s General Obligation bonds credit rating from “stable” to “positive,” and affirmed the state’s outstanding bond rating at “A.”

The action is the first positive outlook or credit rating upgrade for Connecticut’s GO Bonds since 2001.

It comes less than a week after Wooden, Gov. Ned Lamont and Office of Policy and Management Secretary Melissa McCaw made presentations to all four national credit rating agencies at the State Capitol last Wednesday and Thursday.

The presentations highlighted the state’s improving economy, fiscal controls on bonding in the governor’s proposed budget, increases in the Budget Reserve Fund and Common Cash Pool, and the treasurer’s plan to restructure the underfunded Teachers’ Retirement Fund.

The Western Connecticut Council of Governments (WestCOG) has scheduled its third public information session on Westport’s Main to Train Study for Monday, March 25, at Town Hall.

The event is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. in Room 201.

According to Nicole Sullivan, WestCOG associate planner, the purpose of the study is to identify improvements for pedestrian, motor vehicle and bicycle safety along the Post Road and Riverside Avenue.

“An important component of the study process is to conduct outreach to Westport residents, business owners, commuters and other local stakeholders who are concerned about transportation in Westport,” Sullivan said.

By Keith M. Phaneuf

The state House of Representatives’ Progressive Democratic Caucus today intensified its push for higher income taxes on the wealthy to mitigate Gov. Ned Lamont’s sales and sin tax proposals, which would hit the poor and middle class the hardest.

The caucus, which includes 43 House Democrats, also said Connecticut should increase its income tax credit for the working poor and maintain the gift tax.

“We’re looking at fair, creative, and equitable solutions to rebuild, reinvest, and renew Connecticut’s commitment to working families and modest income earners,” said Rep. Anne Hughes, D-Easton, co-chairwoman of the caucus.

“It will take moral courage to implement the systemic measures needed to create a new era of corporate responsibility and fair taxation in our state.”

By Keith M. Phaneuf

Gov. Ned Lamont wants to explore tapping private investors to finance at least some of the hundreds of millions of dollars needed to install electronic tolling on its highways.

Echoing a proposal raised earlier this year by Sen. Alex Bergstein, D-Greenwich, Lamont said he believes the private sector is anxious for Connecticut to rebuild its aging, overcrowded transportation infrastructure, and some investors are ready to back that up with their wallets.

“We could put in place, probably, a public-private partnership so … we wouldn’t have to up front all of that (toll installation) cost,” Lamont said while speaking to the Connecticut Council on Philanthropy at the Hartford Hilton today. “This is the way I’m envisioning it right now.”

A November 2018 study from the Department of Transportation projected capital startup costs for tolls at about $372 million. This includes both roadside work, tolling equipment and fiber optic cable to support 82 tolling gantries.