NEWINGTON - A projections-focused take on the state budget crisis, an economic development-driven revitalization of Hartford, and a reiterated call for shifting away from property tax dependence headlined an open-ended discussion hosted by 28th Assembly District candidate Josh Shulman at the Lucy Welles Robbins Library Monday night.

       During the event-which capped off a series of platform outlines posted on social media in the approaching weeks-Shulman engaged with attending residents on everything from the state budget deficit and education inequity, to the notorious East Cedar Street traffic congestion issue-which he sees as a hindrance to the town’s growth.

       But at front and center was Connecticut’s looming budget deficits-a problem he has preferred to approach from a projections standpoint.

       â€�"Legislators have the opportunity to tell them [financial consultants] ‘no, we don’t think you’re right [about anticipated tax revenue]’,” Shulman said. â€�"What trends are they using, because we can’t be off by a billion dollars. We need realistic expectations. There’s going to be pain when that comes, but it’s got to be there.”

       Shulman’s platform has also focused on the pension side of the issue. The state is only covering around half of its liability, according to a 2015 article in The Wall Street Journal.

       With yearly costs going up, it’s among the state’s budget drivers, Shulman said. He would recommend paying more from year-to-year, but at a fixed rate-as opposed to the ballooning trend that the state is seeing.

       While the state has its own fiscal problems to wrestle with, outside the Capitol building is the city of Hartford’s budget woes-a Hartford Business Journal-reported $48 million deficit that has prompted talks of union renegotiations, layoffs, and a last resort look to bankruptcy. A member of the audience asked Shulman for his thoughts on surrounding towns aiding Hartford.

       While the city’s financial straits are of concern to surrounding suburbs such as Newington-particularly residents that work there-diverting municipal tax revenue toward the problem would not work for towns that already have their own budget issues to contend with, Shulman said.

       The ideal approach would be a focus on revitalizing the city by tapping into assets that include the business community and the potential for a vibrant waterfront-hindered only by the highway structure running through areas of the city that would probably be better suited for economic development, he said.

       To that end, Hartford could benefit from a proposed tunnel route that would replace the congested I-84 corridor and run underground along the Connecticut River, freeing up the waterfront, Shulman said.

       The project-championed by Democratic Congressman John Larson-would likely require some help from the Federal government, given a projected $10 billion cost, he said.

       To that end, Shulman said that he would be looking to collaborate with the state’s congressional delegation.

       â€�"If we can turn Hartford into a thriving city, it can really benefit our towns,” Shulman said.

       The discussion later turned to matters specific to Newington-namely the potential for development along Alumni Road and the traffic volume that runs along East Cedar.

       Addressing both should involve keeping an eye on DOT initiatives, Shulman said. The community would benefit from shedding its reputation as a â€�"pass through town”, and any development at Alumni needs to be within local control, he said.

       â€�"As long as we’re a pass through town, we’re not a destination town,” he said.