When Gov. Dannel Malloy met with residents in Bridgeport about his budget on Monday night, the biggest gripe was over hikes to the income and sales taxes.
Malloy said he wants to share the burden among all taxpayers, but many of them said it's a burden their families and their businesses just can't handle.
"There's just no more to sacrifice. We've given everything," Karen French, of Monroe, said.
"Six percent doesn't seem like a lot, but it's the last straw on the camel's back that can break us, and that's why we need to fight this," said Noah Levine, who owns Rapid Car Wash in New London.
Taxpayers want to know why the state isn't looking for revenue elsewhere and why it isn't cutting spending even more.
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"We've had state lotto. We've had income taxes. We've had two casinos in this state, and we find a way to spend all the money we've brought in. When is enough, enough? Now we have all these new taxes, are they going to find a way to spend these when we get back to zero?" Tony Salerno, of Stratford, asked.
Malloy answered questions during the hour-long session and some people seemed satisfied with his answers. Others, especially those who weren't among the 18 people who had a chance at the microphone, are still frustrated.
"This is not personal. I don't want to hurt anybody. I was elected governor of a state that has a $3.2 million deficit, and I'm trying to find the best course to balance that," he said.
This was the first of 17 town-hall style meetings the governor is holding on the budget. The second town hall meeting will be held on Thursday at 7 p.m. at Torrington City Hall.
