Connecticut officials should use budget reserves now to expand pandemic relief efforts and hire more employees to deliver services, according to a new report Thursday from Connecticut Voices for Children.

The New Haven-based public policy research group also repeated its call for a major state tax overhaul once lawmakers return to the Capitol, urging higher taxes on the wealthy to preserve programs and state tax cuts for low- and moderate-income households.

“After years of restricting the size of the state workforce, the Connecticut government should increase its capacity as well as its accountability — and oversight — to ensure that all new emergency relief programs are administered in a timely and appropriate manner,” Connecticut Voices wrote in its report….