Senate Minority Leader Leonard Fasano (R-North Haven) is critical of announced budget recisions from OPM. He said they unfairly target certain classes of citizens.
Ben Barnes, Office of Policy and Management secretary, announced a series of new holdbacks of agency appropriations equalling $93.1 million. Earlier this month, the General Assembly, voting along party lines, passed $331.5 million in budget revisions that aim to close a mid-year budget deficit. Today’s announcement is in addition to previous cuts made in the original passed budget, Barnes said.
Fasano specifically targeted these holdbacks in his criticism:
- $4.1 million will be held back from two large Department of Developmental Services (DDS) accounts for day programs and residential services.
- $4.1 million is also held back from non-personal services, non-other expenses accounts of the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, resulting in less mental health and substance abuse treatment.
- $24.6 million will be held back from the Medicaid account, thereby increasing the budget cuts to hospitals from $34.2 million to $58.8 million.
- $5.2 million reduction in municipal aid, resulting in the state fully holding back $20 million from the Municipal Opportunities & Regional Efficiencies Commission.
“These cuts target the elderly, the poor and the intellectually disabled, hurting those most in need. They also target municipal aid, adding to burdens felt by every family who lives in our state,” Fasano said in a statement. Republicans had been involved in budget negotiations but were cut out at the end when a consensus couldn’t be reached.
The Special Transportation Fund saw $25.6 million in holdbacks.
The state Judicial Department is facing $12.9 million in overall cuts. Legislative management saw budget holdbacks of $1.5 million. Both branches will determine how they make the cuts because OPM can only issue recommendations.
