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Hartford ranked worst in U.S. for small business climate


beerbeer

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Dead last. New Haven was 4th worst. Connecticut was the 3rd worst state ahead of Illinois and Rhode Island. I've complained about the business climate before.  But none of this ever seems to bother the Connecticut voters who keep electing the Democrats that have cratered the state and city economy. If you want a vibrant city and state, this liberal anti-business attitude has to end.

 

The “consumer service that helps people accomplish the personal projects that are central to their lives” says Hartford’s small business climate is the worst in the country, and New Haven’s is fourth-worst.

The company says it gave nearly 18,000 small business owners across the country a 36-question survey, asking questions about the friendliness of states and cities toward small business, including specific questions about the regulatory environment for labor, tax, and licensing rules. They say only states with more than 50 responses and cities with more than 30 responses were given a grade.

Hartford received an “F” in nine of 11 areas, and New Haven received an “F” in four of 11 areas. Howard Schwartz, Communications Executive Director of the Connecticut Better Business Bureau, says there are lessons to be learned from the survey.

“Businesses found cities and states were most business-friendly if they promoted local business training and if they eased regulatory compliance,” said Schwartz.

“No business likes to be burdened in paperwork,” he added. “They want a government, whether its state or local, to have a friendly website where they can find what they need and quickly because time is everything; time is money.”

 

http://wtnh.com/2015/08/19/hartford-ranked-worst-in-country-for-small-business-climate-new-haven-4th-worst/

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What a surprise! With consistent democratic wins I just can't see CT moving forward economically. Malloy has been disaster, and the GOP just can't seem to put up s good candidate. Had they had a bull Malloy would of been booted out. He barely just won.

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  • 3 weeks later...

The legislature is the problem.  That and city government.

If Luke Bronan wins nothing will change. Might as well keep Segerra. It's still gonna be the same old tired democratic policies. At the State level CT is screwed. With 3.5 more years of Malloy left, the economic damage will take years to fix after he leaves office. That's providing another democrat doesn't get elected.

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  • 2 weeks later...

If you guys don't stop electing liberals, of both parties, the state will be losing population. I moved to Florida because my boss moved the business to Florida. Without a state income tax, I'm making more money and can you fill up for $2.00/gal?

I miss Connecticut, but until voters wake up, I can't move back. If you are sick of taxes, move, but leave liberalism behind, we don't need it.

 

 

 

If Luke Bronan wins nothing will change. Might as well keep Segerra. It's still gonna be the same old tired democratic policies. At the State level CT is screwed. With 3.5 more years of Malloy left, the economic damage will take years to fix after he leaves office. That's providing another democrat doesn't get elected.

 

 

Who's running for mayor?

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  • 1 month later...

Even the Courant notices. But they don't get it.  Nothing will change until the state stops electing liberals.

Connecticut’s population is getting old, but it’s also getting out.

More than 82,000 people moved to Connecticut from other states in 2014, but more than 96,000 Connecticut residents moved out, according to new U.S. Census Bureau estimates. That’s a net loss of about 13,285 Nutmeggers, or about 0.37 percent of the population, to other states — one of the 10 highest rates in the nation, the data show.

Where did they go? Mostly to New York (14,649 people), Massachusetts (13,287) and Florida (12,944), according to the estimates. More than 10,000 others left for California and North Carolina.“It’s the economy,” said Orlando J. Rodriguez, an associate legislative analyst with the Latino and Puerto Rican Affairs Commission and the former director of the Connecticut State Data Center. “It’s the same thing it’s always been.”

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as much as you may hate the guy he is working to shrink the government and as gearing up to gain further concessions from the unions.  

 

I'd say that this is the time for you conservative types to support the man and make realistic requests of the position (Considering that Rell did neither of these things)

If you think he should cut 1000 more jobs rather than 500, maybe you ask for that, but maybe touy ask for 700 also

And the union concessions, you know, are really an impossible nut to crack, but progress was made the first time he renegotiated, and all signs point to further progress this time.

I am a proud liberal, but I am not a fan of a social state, so say what you will in threads like this about our ecomeny and all the tears or commerce, but I am certain that Malloy is generally good for business in this state, and if he can continue to make progress on this pension issue, the state will be left much better off than he found it...

 

and for my tax dollar, which I happily pay to sustain my quality of life... , I love how he has worked towards a stronger capital city through CRDA, mass transit funding and and hopefully a new XL center.

 

 

 

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Shrink government(good one)? Good for business(gotta a good chuckle on that one). Sorry don't mean to be rude but what planet are you living on? Malloy is a disaster! By the way I'm not a conservative, liberal, nor Republican. Just tired of seeing this State continue to go down the tubes. I talk to business people all the time in my line of work, and all say the same thing. Malloy's making it more and more difficult to do business in CT. And the only reason why he's starting to talk about concessions is because any more taxes will not be tolerated by the people of the state. He has no choice! His poll numbers are in the tank! If he had his way he would continue to raise taxes every budget year.

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DRC, you may not self identify, but based on your external talking points.. you are conservative.  

Malloy in not just starting to talk, he has been after concessions since he was first elected and was only mildly successful the first time at it.  He is gearing up for the second shot.   He also got more concessions there than any past leader.  and was crusified by the conservatives even though none of their past govenors did anything.

and yeah, the state employs 1000 people less than it did when he was elected.  so chuckle if you want, but its certainly not doing as you indicated.

 

the dude has loads of issues, but I hardly think he is responsible for making it hard to do business in CT.  IN CT, most of the issues come from a legislature that champions pet projects.  

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Right after Malloy was first elected he imposed the largest tax increase in Connecticut history.  And like always that didn't solve anything and he was forced to raise taxes again and again.

At the same time the younger Cuumo (also a Democrat) was elected governor of New York and he refused to raise taxes and made his state live within their current budget. The results have been very good.

The system in Connecticut is corrupt.  Democrats give unions big money.  They in turn give big money back to the Democrats.  The unions and Democrats need more and more money to keep this system working, so they raise more and more taxes.  This will continue until the Democrats are throw out of the legislature. Or until less liberal Democrats like Cuomo are voted in. This system is killing the state. It gets more uncompetitive with each passing year. It is forcing more and more people out of state. In fact, the state has lost population for five straight years. That places more and more of a burden on the residents and more and more are looking to get out.  There is a solution but nothing happens until the far left Democrats are thrown out.

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Thats my point BB, Malloy is not far left, he is more moderate that usual and much more "pro business"   So my suggestion is that we dont just raise hands in the air and lambast the man, we... Ahem... you communicate that you would like slightly larger concessions this time around.  because, ya know... he is actually trying to get concessions which past administrations, including the republican ones, didnt even attempt....

 

Malloys unpopularity is partly because he is looking to change that dynamic... the unions dont like him, they see him as a bad guy.  

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DRC, you may not self identify, but based on your external talking points.. you are conservative.  

Malloy in not just starting to talk, he has been after concessions since he was first elected and was only mildly successful the first time at it.  He is gearing up for the second shot.   He also got more concessions there than any past leader.  and was crusified by the conservatives even though none of their past govenors did anything.

and yeah, the state employs 1000 people less than it did when he was elected.  so chuckle if you want, but its certainly not doing as you indicated.

 

the dude has loads of issues, but I hardly think he is responsible for making it hard to do business in CT.  IN CT, most of the issues come from a legislature that champions pet projects.  

No I just look at things realistically. If Malloy was really serious about tackling the budget and the unions, then he wouldn't of given us the two largest tax increases in state history. The guy is constantly raising taxes, and literally decimating the middle class at the same time. What is your source for the state employment numbers?

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Regarding the 1000 jobs and 500 more, those numbers have been widely reported in all media outlets for the last couple of weeks.  Admitadly, I take them to be true, but Im sure the media would be tearing malloy up if they were false.  the conservatives claim its not enough.. and it may not be, but its sure and crap progress.  and its more than we got in other administrations.

 

regarding the pension issue, an article out today gives a lot more color

http://www.courant.com/opinion/editorials/hc-ed-state-pension-fund-rejiggering-questions-20151030-story.html

Im not sure if a split is a great idea or a bad one, but I agree with the article that there needs to be a change up front to we are not just treating symptoms, and instead lessen the future impact by changing the system.

 

You can lament the tax increases, but those increases were to pay for the errors of those that came before him.  Most of our budgetary issues stem from pensions and as that article I linked above indicates, its a long standing issue.

Hell, the state was moronic before 1984, and then just dumb for a ling time after that.  while we are certainly smarter now, we ran up a credit card bill we just cant easily pay and so I say to you that you should try and support and nudge the guy who is finally trying to fix it, even if its painful and leads to tax increases... because, the other option would be a full default.  (I am not totally opposed to a default personally, but Im a bit wild when it comes to civic financing concepts)

I think drastic measures might get the federal govt to actually give CT back what it pays in and with any luck, make up nfor the 30 plus years of using our taxes to finance other states in the South and west.

 

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VOR, Cuomo faced the same problems that Malloy did and he did it without tax hikes.  You give Malloy a pass and he doesn't deserve one. He didn't have the courage to cut the budget, he INCREASED spending. Even worse he made a bunch of promises to the union, he promised not to fire a single union employee. He made up fake accounting tricks like a suggestion box he said would save 150 million dollars. That was a scam.  It didn't save a penny.

He is the definition of a tax and spend liberal. He can talk all he wants. I judge him by his actions.

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VOR, I am not doing this to pick on you.  But at some point the voters of Connecticut have to come to grips with this and make a change. This is from Kiplinger.

 

Least Tax-Friendly States in the U.S.

2. Connecticut

image: http://www.kiplinger.com/slideshow/taxes/T054-S001-least-tax-friendly-states-in-the-u-s/images/connecticut.jpg

slideshow image

State insect - European mantis
Photo courtesy Alvesgaspar via Creative Commons

State income tax: 3% (on income up to $10,000/individual, $20,000/joint) - 7.0% (on income above $500,000/individual, $1,000,000/joint)

State sales tax: 6.4% for most items; 7.8% for certain luxury items.

Gas taxes and fees: 41 cents per gallon

The Constitution State ranks so high because of its one-two punch of property taxes (fourth-highest in the nation) and gas taxes (fifth-highest).

The sales tax on vehicles valued at $50,000 or less is 6.4%; those over that amount are taxed at the 7.8% luxury rate. In addition, vehicles are subject to an annual levy set by individual municipalities. In Hartford, for example, the annual property levy for a vehicle valued at $20,000 is almost $1,500. However, legislation that will take effect next year will cap the rate municipalities can charge. In Hartford, the cap will lower motor vehicle taxes by more than 56%.

The median property tax on the state’s median home value of $267,000 is $5,280.

There are no local sales taxes in Connecticut, so you’ll pay only the statewide rate of 6.4% on your purchases. As of July 1, clothing and shoes under $50 are no longer exempt from the state sales tax. Luxury items, such as jewelry worth more than $5,000, are taxed at 7.8%, which means a $6,000 engagement ring would cost you $6,465. And if those baubles are a gift, keep in mind that Connecticut is also one of only two states with a gift tax (the other is Minnesota), which applies to real and tangible personal property in Connecticut and intangible personal property anywhere for permanent residents.


Read more at http://www.kiplinger.com/slideshow/taxes/T054-S001-least-tax-friendly-states-in-the-u-s/index.html#dzjiuG7hPig3BQfD.99
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  • 2 months later...
  • 4 weeks later...
On ‎10‎/‎29‎/‎2015 at 10:54 AM, The Voice of Reason said:

as much as you may hate the guy he is working to shrink the government and as gearing up to gain further concessions from the unions.  

 

I'd say that this is the time for you conservative types to support the man and make realistic requests of the position (Considering that Rell did neither of these things)

If you think he should cut 1000 more jobs rather than 500, maybe you ask for that, but maybe touy ask for 700 also

And the union concessions, you know, are really an impossible nut to crack, but progress was made the first time he renegotiated, and all signs point to further progress this time.

I am a proud liberal, but I am not a fan of a social state, so say what you will in threads like this about our ecomeny and all the tears or commerce, but I am certain that Malloy is generally good for business in this state, and if he can continue to make progress on this pension issue, the state will be left much better off than he found it...

 

and for my tax dollar, which I happily pay to sustain my quality of life... , I love how he has worked towards a stronger capital city through CRDA, mass transit funding and and hopefully a new XL center.

 

 

 

The only jobs he his making sure of being lost is private business's jobs...You aren't going to tell me he is cutting government jobs. GE moved to Massachusetts, and I remembered when it was called Taxachusetts.

What we need in Connecticut is a sea change in Hartford...as Einstein said, "Insanity is doing the same thing and expecting different results." Connecticut's voters are insane, they elect liberals and they think they'll be CONSERVATIVE. Liberals will tax and spend...but Margaret Thatcher said, "The bad thing about LIBERALISM is that they will run out of other's people money." Connecticut is running out of other people's money...

Connecticut needs to elect pro-business politicians. Connecticut is not going to turn around in 4 years, but you'll need about 15 years - Connecticut should cut income tax - I was there at the Anti Tax rally in Hartford...and Election Night in 1994, the Hartford Courant had a picture of the Tom Scott's Headquarters and I was in the picture...celebrating the Republicans takeover of the House. When the income tax got passed, I knew the Liberals would pickpocket the voters...Even Republicans didn't want to cut the income tax after it was passed...

 

...

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On ‎10‎/‎30‎/‎2015 at 1:22 PM, The Voice of Reason said:

Thats my point BB, Malloy is not far left, he is more moderate that usual and much more "pro business"   So my suggestion is that we dont just raise hands in the air and lambast the man, we... Ahem... you communicate that you would like slightly larger concessions this time around.  because, ya know... he is actually trying to get concessions which past administrations, including the republican ones, didnt even attempt....

 

Malloys unpopularity is partly because he is looking to change that dynamic... the unions dont like him, they see him as a bad guy.  

Malloy is Pro-Business? And he is a moderate?? That is funny...One second thought, compared to the two fossils running for president on the Democrat side (one is a Socialist, the other is an honest socialist), Malloy would be a moderate.

The Democrat mayor in Tampa, is about as CONSERVATIVE as Republicans in Connecticut. Mayor Bob Buckhorn is good and Tampa is booming...(Tampa is the blue island in red Hillsborough County.)

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On ‎11‎/‎3‎/‎2015 at 2:32 PM, beerbeer said:

VOR, I am not doing this to pick on you.  But at some point the voters of Connecticut have to come to grips with this and make a change. This is from Kiplinger.

 

Least Tax-Friendly States in the U.S.

2. Connecticut

image: http://www.kiplinger.com/slideshow/taxes/T054-S001-least-tax-friendly-states-in-the-u-s/images/connecticut.jpg

slideshow image

State insect - European mantis
Photo courtesy Alvesgaspar via Creative Commons

State income tax: 3% (on income up to $10,000/individual, $20,000/joint) - 7.0% (on income above $500,000/individual, $1,000,000/joint)

State sales tax: 6.4% for most items; 7.8% for certain luxury items.

Gas taxes and fees: 41 cents per gallon

The Constitution State ranks so high because of its one-two punch of property taxes (fourth-highest in the nation) and gas taxes (fifth-highest).

The sales tax on vehicles valued at $50,000 or less is 6.4%; those over that amount are taxed at the 7.8% luxury rate. In addition, vehicles are subject to an annual levy set by individual municipalities. In Hartford, for example, the annual property levy for a vehicle valued at $20,000 is almost $1,500. However, legislation that will take effect next year will cap the rate municipalities can charge. In Hartford, the cap will lower motor vehicle taxes by more than 56%.

The median property tax on the state’s median home value of $267,000 is $5,280.

There are no local sales taxes in Connecticut, so you’ll pay only the statewide rate of 6.4% on your purchases. As of July 1, clothing and shoes under $50 are no longer exempt from the state sales tax. Luxury items, such as jewelry worth more than $5,000, are taxed at 7.8%, which means a $6,000 engagement ring would cost you $6,465. And if those baubles are a gift, keep in mind that Connecticut is also one of only two states with a gift tax (the other is Minnesota), which applies to real and tangible personal property in Connecticut and intangible personal property anywhere for permanent residents.


Read more at http://www.kiplinger.com/slideshow/taxes/T054-S001-least-tax-friendly-states-in-the-u-s/index.html#dzjiuG7hPig3BQfD.99

This is why Connecticut will lose another electoral vote in 2020 census...oh well Texas will gladly take it....

 

Liberals, when you do move, please move to either New York or another liberal state...not to a conservative state. If you move to a conservative state, LEAVE YOUR LIBERALISM BEHIND!!!

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  • 3 weeks later...
On 1/13/2016 at 6:41 PM, drc72 said:

Well there you go. Malloy has driven GE out of Connecticut., But please voice of reason keep defending them.

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Happily!

GE left CT because they know they could grab 150 million from someone, CT included, and Malloy made the right move not paying the ransom.

 

Companies like GE have only been a corporate shell in the state anyways... I'm not saying its good to lose those 800 jobs, but really GE moving is so much about us being in a tiny state and corporate leaders having no community ties.  It surely wasnt about taxes... it was more about quality of life and access to to the world (a good airport)  the huge subsidy is covering the taxes

 

global public companies like GE UTC and Aetna don't care about CT at all and are led by guys with non community ties.  Further they assume all shareholders only care about profits.  This issue is more an issue with the nature of our public companies that is is with the governor.

 

 

And lets be clear here conservative members of this board....

My interest is not political... its about development opportunities and the health of Hartford.  I know Malloy is the best Governor that HARTFORD has had in a long time.  I know because I have seen the results.  I am confident that this will continue with Bronin as mayor

 

 

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https://wallethub.com/edu/best-state-capitals/19030/#methodology

http://www.ctpost.com/news/article/Report-Hartford-is-the-worst-capital-city-in-the-6848979.php

HATE these lists..... if you annexed the surrounding towns its a whole different story (maybe someone smarter than me could figure out where we'd be on the list --- much better that #50 I hope)

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Oh Jeez yeah, those lists are absurd.

Problem for us is thats its impossible to determine where the political lines "Should" be drawn.

I mean

if ya look at this though... Hartford is not That small compared to some.  Its just Small and part of a larger metro, so thats rare

Providence is our closest similar city as the center of a decent sized metro and having a tiny city proper.

Also Harrisburg, while much smaller is kinda similar.

Both lie in the bottom 10 with hartford

Https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_capitals_in_the_United_States

 

 

 

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5 hours ago, The Voice of Reason said:

Happily!

GE left CT because they know they could grab 150 million from someone, CT included, and Malloy made the right move not paying the ransom.

 

Companies like GE have only been a corporate shell in the state anyways... I'm not saying its good to lose those 800 jobs, but really GE moving is so much about us being in a tiny state and corporate leaders having no community ties.  It surely wasnt about taxes... it was more about quality of life and access to to the world (a good airport)  the huge subsidy is covering the taxes

 

global public companies like GE UTC and Aetna don't care about CT at all and are led by guys with non community ties.  Further they assume all shareholders only care about profits.  This issue is more an issue with the nature of our public companies that is is with the governor.

 

 

And lets be clear here conservative members of this board....

My interest is not political... its about development opportunities and the health of Hartford.  I know Malloy is the best Governor that HARTFORD has had in a long time.  I know because I have seen the results.  I am confident that this will continue with Bronin as mayor

 

 

No. They left because Malloy hit corporations with two of the biggest tax hikes in Connecticut history in the last five years. It was cause/effect. And even worse, they believed more tax hikes are in the offing (and if Democrats keep control they are probably right).

Keep making excuses if you want.  But it is a pain in the butt to move a corporation. It's expensive and cause a lot of disruption. GE would have gone nowhere. This is a direct result of anti-business taxes, regulations and high energy prices. And both Aetna and UTC are now eyeing the door.

Malloy and Andrew Cuomo (NY Governor) were elected at the same time. Both had huge deficits. Cuomo refused to raise taxes and lowered spending and New York didn't lose any companies. New York's economy is healthy.  Malloy put in a huge tax increase and RAISED spending and you can see the result.

Until Connecticut voters come out of their denial, the state will continue to bleed companies and jobs

 

 

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