The CT Gravy Train: Where State Employee Wages are Second in the Nation
- 4 minutes ago
- 1 min read
Want to understand why Connecticut’s tax burden remains among the highest in the country? Look at The Red Line. Greenwich resident Red Jahncke’s latest insights reveal how state finances are being swallowed by union contracts and political appointee wages that crowd out essential programs.
According to the 2026 data, the average CT state employee salary has officially topped $100,000—the second-highest in the nation. Governor Lamont just submitted new contracts awarding another four years of 4.5% annual increases. This path fuels a projected 60% wage hike over the "Lamont Decade" following his 2019 inauguration.
Lavish Spending on Taxpayer's Dime
The "gravy train" isn’t just for unions; it’s loaded with political appointees including UConn athletic coaches, UConn Health System administrators and judges. Jahncke highlights two egregious examples of taxpayer-funded excess:
The "Strategic" Adviser: Former CSCU Chancellor Terrence Cheng resigned under pressure in March 2025 following revelations of lavish personal spending. Yet, a year later, he remains on the payroll as a "Strategic Adviser" making $442,000—despite reports that he has missed every oversight board meeting.
The Quasi-Public Payday: The head of CT Innovations pulled in $680,000 in 2025 to manage an entity with merely $41.5 million in assets. Meanwhile, the chief of the CT Green Bank—funded by the "public benefit charge" on your skyrocketing utility bills—made $330,000.
Between the Lines: To fix this, follow the money. Union dues fund the Democratic supermajority entrenched in Hartford, creating a self-sustaining cycle of spending. If you want to stop the train, you have to vote it out.