Legislative Republicans today unveiled a plan they said will reduce the state’s deficits for the next five years, including the projected $935.7 million deficit for fiscal 2017. GOP leaders said their plan will produce surpluses in five years.
The Republican plan would maintain Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s $281.1 million savings in personal services. It, however, continues the GOP plan of allowing unions to make concessions that would avoid layoffs.
Among the steps the Republicans would take:
- Implement legislative givebacks including salary reductions and elimination of unsolicited mail;
- Reduce annual bonding levels;
- Wage freeze for all state employees;
- Centralize state legal staff;
- Prioritize and reduce bonding;
- Privatize group homes;
- Eliminate taxpayer funding for political campaigns; and,
- Increase employee healthcare contributions to 20 percent and increase copays for non-union state employees
“I’m glad the minority finally came through with their budget proposal, which contains some helpful ideas, many similar to what is contained in the Democrats’ plan. Time is of the essence, if the Republicans are serious about leading, let’s sit down today, work it out, and get this done together.” said House Speaker Brendan Sharkey (D-Hamden).
The GOP legislators said following 2017, this budget proposal is projected to produce annual surpluses, with a cumulative total of over $1 billion.
The proposed Republican budget would restore funding to core social services Democrats have proposed cutting this year, while also making needed cuts and implementing new policies that generate long-term savings.
Proposals include cutting administrative, non-service accounts by 12 percent for a total savings of $157.5 million and legislative givebacks including legislative salary reductions and elimination of unsolicited mail. Republicans also want to make modifications to debt service and a cap on state bonding and implement long-term structural changes to the state budget including mandatory voting by the legislature on labor contracts, overtime accountability protocols, as well as caps on spending and bonding.
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