Legislative Republicans say they like the idea that the majority Democrats’ budget spends less than Gov. M. Jodi Rell’s, but they’re questioning whether the numbers add up.
The $18.4 billion budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1 spends about $110 million less than Republican Rell’s proposal. Democratic leaders say their new spending plan reflects concerns with the slowing economy.
Minority Republicans are particularly concerned about the Democrats’ claim there is an extra $150 million in state Medicaid accounts. That money is being used in the budget to help cover some new spending, such as about $10 million to boost staffing at nursing homes and $30 million in additional aid to cities and towns.
The legislature’s nonpartisan Office of Fiscal Analysis says tens of millions of dollars have been left over in Medicaid accounts in each of the past five years.
The Appropriations Committee will vote on the budget bill sometime Wednesday afternoon.
