Gov. M. Jodi Rell suggests an early retirement program for some state employees could help cover Connecticut’s budget deficit for the fiscal year that begins July 1, The Associated Press reports.
The Republican governor met behind closed doors Monday with Democratic and Republican legislative leaders to discuss her ideas on how to cover the estimated $730 million in red ink for the final year of a two-year, $37.6 billion budget.
Lawmakers last week passed a plan to plug the current year’s $500 million deficit.
Rell did not publicly say how much would be saved under her plan. Republicans offered a similar proposal last week for workers ages 52 to 54, saying it would save $64 million.
No agreement was reached on which future revenue streams, such as Keno or the lottery, to borrow against to raise money to fill a $1.3 billion hole.
