Connecticut has long been known as the land of steady habits. Across the state, people rise early, often before dawn, to build lives for themselves and their families. From short order cooks, plumbers, and schoolteachers to investment professionals catching the train into the city, their work is disciplined, consistent, and rooted in responsibility.
That same spirit should define state government.
Connecticut residents contribute significantly to support public services. Our state ranks near the bottom (47th) in tax competitiveness, with a complex income tax system and one of the highest property tax burdens in the nation. The high taxes should secure a government that is accessible, accountable, and fully engaged in serving the public.
At its best, public service means responsiveness, efficiency, and presence. It means that when a resident calls a state agency, someone answers or calls back promptly. It means public offices are active, not empty, and that government functions in a way that enables it to fulfil its responsibilities.
Current practice falls far short of that standard. Connecticut labor agreements (established by the State Employees Bargaining Agent Coalition, or SEBAC, contracts) actually permit state employees to work from home four days per week. As a result, residents frequently encounter unanswered calls and delayed responses. Expensively maintained state buildings sit largely vacant.
Meanwhile, state worker compensation continues to rise. Since 2018, average state employee pay has increased by 35% to $94,675, outpacing inflation by around $3,000. Over the same period, private-sector wages in Connecticut grew by 11.3% to around $76,000; that’s approximately $9,000 below inflation. Public-sector compensation now exceeds both private-sector averages within the state and average state employee wages of comparable states, like Massachusetts, by almost $10,000.
None of this reflects malicious intent. But it does suggest a set of policies and agreements that no longer align with the expectations of the people who fund them.
The solution is simple, but it isn’t easy. Current SEBAC contracts are beig negotiated now and will be re-established in 2027. The governor has an opportunity to reestablish basic management authority and set expectations that reflect residents’ needs — but only if he is willing to take on Connecticut’s dominant special interest: the state workers’ union. These expectations include consistent in-person service, office attendance, and clear standards for responsiveness.
The legislature should hold itself to the same standard. During the pandemic, the Joint Rules of the House and Senate (which govern legislative operations) created workarounds to permit remote participation in hearings and votes. Those accommodations made sense at the time (and for members of the public, they still do). But five years later, they remain in place for legislators, and in-person participation is still optional.
But legislating is not a purely transactional process. It depends on relationships, trust, and real-time negotiation, which happens most effectively through face-to-face interaction. A system built around remote participation risks diminishing the quality of deliberation and, over time, weakens representative government itself.
Yet state legislators also are receiving more money for working fewer hours in person. They received a 4.5% increase last year and are slated for another 4.5% increase again this year.
Connecticut’s residents show up: to work, to care for their families, and to fund their state. They deserve a government that shows up, too.
A renewed commitment to presence, responsiveness, and accountability doesn’t require new programs or higher spending. It simply requires aligning public servants with the same steady habits that characterize the hardworking people they serve.
Responsible governance demands nothing less.
Carol Platt Liebau is the president of Yankee Institute, a Connecticut-based public policy organization advancing practical solutions to keep our state affordable, livable, and workable.
