Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s latest budget plan cuts $78.7 million more in state spending. He told legislative leaders the cuts are necessary to balance the state budget, which is currently showing a projected deficit of $266 million.
Direct spending cuts the governor controls equal $65.2 million. The governor recommended $9.3 million cuts in judicial spending and $4.2 million in legislative agencies spending. It will be up to those two branches to determine how the cuts are made.
Most departments see cuts to their personal services account. OPM spokesman GianCarl Casa said they vary from agency to agency and are not a set percentage. He said in an e-mail, “They are due to the cancellation of managerial pay increases, savings due to turnover, vacancies, etc. So that will vary.”
The agency hit hardest is the Department of Developmental Services, where spending will be cut $17.1 million – more than one-fourth of the proposed cuts. Malloy wants to cut, among other items, $9.6 million for community residential services and $4.5 million for employment opportunity and day services.
“It is the Democrats’ hesitation that led to the governor’s action today, therefore Democrats must be held accountable for the governor’s cuts. Republicans have put an alternative reasonable, responsible plan on the table the governor has said he would sign into law if passed by the General Assembly,” said Senate Minority Leader Len Fasano in a statement.
Another hard-hit agency was the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, which saw its budget reduced by $7.1 million. Cuts included $1.4 million in grants for mental health services and $1 million each in spending for the managed service system and young adult services.
The Department of Social Services saw its budget cut by $3.1 million. The two largest cuts were $1.4 million for Medicaid and $730,000 for the Connecticut Children’s Medical Center.
UConn had its budget cut $4 million while the UConn Health Center in Farmington will see its budget cut by $1.3 million.
