Connecticut Senate President: Local Tax Hikes On The Table

HARTFORD, Conn. (CBSNewYork) -- With massive state budget deficits projected over the next several years, state Senate President Martin Looney is immersing himself in ways to deal with the challenges.

Looney, D-New Haven, who has a strong financial background, told WCBS 880 Connecticut Bureau Chief Fran Schneidau there's no way to rule out tax hikes, not only on the state level but also by towns and cities.

"We will be looking at a number of different options, including allowing the municipalities to raise some additional revenues locally," Looney said.

Since, as Looney noted, towns and cities are financed largely by local property taxes, there's a need to explore other revenue sources.

One idea, he said, is to allow municipalities to impose a minimal sales tax apart from the state sales tax already on the books.