Connecticut groups want Gov. Ned Lamont to use some of the state's budget reserve to fund social programs.

The state has amassed a more than $4 billion budget reserve in recent years.

But the governor is holding onto the money, saying the extra funds will be needed to bail the state out of any future economic trouble.

Norma Martinez-HoSang - director of the nonprofit Connecticut For All - said she understands that, but said the money could make a real difference.

"In Connecticut, we saw many families suffer from being underinsured or not insured at all," said Martinez-HoSang. "There've been a lot of people not able to afford their rent and even evictions. Our schools have been using ARPA funds since the pandemic - and now, those are ending at the end of the year."

Polls show using these funds to help shore up basic safety-net programs is widely popular with Connecticut voters.

Sixty-three percent say they want the budget reserves to be used for education, health and human services, and other priorities.

Only 8% want all surplus funding to be spent on paying down state employee pension debt. A 2024 report finds overall statewide pension debt is close to $37 billion.

Along with the budget reserve, Martinez-HoSang noted that policymakers could take other steps to make Connecticut life more affordable. One suggestion is to fix the state's 'regressive' tax system.

Studies show low and middle-income earners pay a higher percentage of their income in taxes than wealthier residents.

Martinez-HoSang said the state's fiscal guardrails are "out of touch" with people's needs.

"We should find a way to work around them in 2025 - and get rid of them in a few years when they're up again, to be reestablished or to get rid of them," said Martinez-HoSang. "So, those fiscal guardrails are in the way of real investments that our community needs."

Other legislation to handle this issue should come up when the General Assembly reconvenes next year.

Martinez-HoSang said this should involve addressing the state's volatility cap.

This creates a limit on the amount of revenue used to balance the budget. While it's supposed to capture those funds, it has diverted nearly 10 billion dollars in recent years, which can be spent elsewhere.




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Just as inflation starts to ease, Mississippi small businesses face another looming threat: the potential expiration of the small business deduction.

It is also called the Qualified Business Income deduction and if Congress does not renew it, it could affect nearly 266,000 small businesses in Mississippi, which employ more than 430,000 people.

Leah Long, Mississippi state director for the National Federation of Independent Business, said the Main Street Tax Certainty Act, which has bipartisan support, is set to expire in 2025. It is the law allowing small companies to deduct up to 20% of their qualified business income.

"It's a massive hit to their business, because they rely on that," Long stressed. "They're also facing issues like inflation, cost pressure and the uncertainty of the economy. So right now, the biggest focus is on that and getting the congressional members to sign on to support it, to reinstate it and make it permanent."

The Federation's August jobs report found 40% of small business owners had job openings they could not fill in August, up two percentage points from July.

Long pointed out if no action is taken by Congress, it would amount to a big tax hike for nine out of 10 small businesses nationwide, compromising their ability to grow and hire workers.

"When small businesses are doing well and they have more money, they're able to invest more into their business, they're available to best invest more into the economy and also in their communities," Long explained. "These small business owners are the ones that sponsor your kids' T-ball team."

She noted while measures like the Inflation Reduction Act have provided some aid, passing bills like the Main Street Tax Certainty Act will be crucial to support Mississippi business owners.


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A new report shows minimum wage increases have had little effect on the number of jobs in Maryland and nationwide.

While the rhetoric around increasing the minimum wage often comes with the caution it will reduce low-wage employment, a new review of decades of research showed most studies found no job losses after the state or local minimum wage is raised.

Ben Zipperer, senior economist for the Economic Policy Institute and the review's co-author, said raising the minimum wage has unquestionably benefited workers.

"Minimum wages very consistently have ended up raising the incomes of low-wage workers," Zipperer pointed out. "They have done so in a way that doesn't cause any big negative employment shocks or big disruptions in their local economy."

In Maryland, the state minimum wage increased to $15 an hour Jan. 1. The minimum wage in Montgomery County increased July 1 to $17.15 for large employers, and $15.50 for mid-size employers.

The latest numbers in Maryland show the state's job growth rate increased 1.2% in the first seven months of this year, exceeding the national average. The state's labor force participation rate also increased to 65.5%, the highest number since September 2020.

Zipperer noted the studies showed raising minimum wages has other benefits.

"What does happen is that employee turnover falls dramatically and that's because the job is suddenly more attractive to workers when you pay them more," Zipperer emphasized. "That's one of the reasons why you don't actually see big falls in employment after a minimum wage increase."

He added minimum wages are one of the most well studied topics in economics. Researchers built an online repository of studies going back to 1992, and will add new studies as they are published.


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Toledo's historic Dorr Street Corridor was once the beating heart of Black culture, wealth and business in the city. Now, community leaders and local politicians are striving to restore its former vibrancy.

Decades of urban renewal projects, including the construction of the interstate, eroded much of what was once known as "Black Wall Street."

Anita Lopez, a Lucas County Commissioner, emphasized the importance of economic development in revitalizing this historic area.

"When we have construction, we have businesses opening, that means jobs, jobs, jobs," Lopez pointed out. "And that's one of my promises, to help infuse employment opportunities and create opportunities for individuals to earn more money, and make money while doing construction."

Lopez's vision aligns with ongoing redevelopment efforts for the Dorr Street Corridor, with plans for new businesses and housing. However, some community members remain skeptical, questioning whether the project will truly benefit the local population or lead to gentrification.

Groups like the African American Legacy Project of Northwest Ohio are hopeful the area can return to its historic roots.

Charlesena Smith, a longtime Toledo resident and volunteer with the African American Legacy Project, is working to ensure redevelopment focuses on restoring Black ownership and creating a safe, inclusive environment for residents and visitors alike. Smith recalls the corridor's former glory and said she is hopeful for its future.

"I would like to see this place go back to what it used to be," Smith stressed. "Owning our own business, bringing the people that's coming through here (who) can stop by and feel safe. That's exactly what I think should happen."

The efforts are seen as steps toward reclaiming a part of Toledo's history while providing modern-day economic opportunities. As community members and political leaders push forward, Toledo's Black Wall Street could once again be a cornerstone of local wealth and culture.


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