These savings are a testament to the budgetary restraints put in place years ago that emphasized paying down state debt. Still, savings from the state's revenue cap have come at the expense of families who face cost-of-living increases and reduced services.

The effectiveness of the fiscal guardrail legislation, enacted by state lawmakers in 2017, is undeniable. It has led to the state wiping away billions of dollars in decades-old pension debt and reducing various taxes, a significant achievement.

Despite the positive budgetary announcement, it's crucial to recognize that the state's cost savings have come at the expense of working- and low-income families struggling to make ends meet. They are now grappling with higher living expenses due to reduced government funding for assistance and core programs, a stark trade-off.   

For instance, as working- and low-income families struggle to pay sky-rocketing utility rates, despite record reserves, funding levels to the Connecticut Energy Assistance Program remain lower than what the state provided to residents four years ago. Public colleges and universities in the state face economic hardships as COVID relief funding expires; they are forced to cut costs by staff cuts and eliminating courses, affecting the services they can provide to families.

Anyone who travels through downtown Danbury during the workweek can witness the increased need for assistance with their own eyes. On any given Tuesday or Friday, lines of people in need at the Daily Bread Food Pantry can flow to the end of Terrace Place and wrap around West Street towards Main Street. Seeing mothers waiting in line for assistance with their children was one of the most heartbreaking moments of my summer.

Not to be outdone, on any Thursday, record lines at the Association of Religious Communities (ARC) can be seen starting at the agency's doors and extending down Liberty Street. One day, the number of people in need made ARC Executive Director Ari Rosenberg exclaim on social media, "We definitely got SLAMMED today. One of our busiest days ever. So many people are really hurting right now." 

With so many people struggling financially, in one of the wealthiest states in the country, it makes you wonder if lawmakers are misguided in their priorities as taxpayers pay the price for reducing much-needed services at a time when the increased number of people in need is undeniable.