Gov. Dannel P. Malloy said today that the layoff instructions sent today to agency heads are a matter of due diligence, not saber rattling directed at state employees.

If his administration’s concession talks with labor fail, he will have to cut $1 billion from his budget proposal, he said.

“There’s no way to get to that without a lot of people losing jobs,” Malloy said. “That’s just the reality. It’s not a threat. I’m being respectful. I’m not demonizing anybody in any way. I’m just getting prepared.”

How many layoffs are contemplated?

On average, the layoff of 1,000 employees would produce a net savings of $100 million in the first year. Cuts in salaries would be partially offset that first year by unemployment costs, plus employees cashing out accrued sick and vacation time.

“Anybody can do the math,” he said.

Mark is the Capitol Bureau Chief and a co-founder of CT Mirror. He is a frequent contributor to WNPR, a former state politics writer for The Hartford Courant and Journal Inquirer, and contributor for The New York Times.

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