Gov. Dannel P. Malloy unveiled plans Monday to reverse nearly two decades of budget gimmicks that leave the state facing huge payments over the next two decades to sustain Connecticut’s grossly underfunded state employee pension fund. But while Malloy touted potential long-range savings, they come with a high price that must be paid up front: […]

One of the leading Wall Street credit rating agencies downgraded Connecticut’s rating Friday, citing a heavily loaded state credit card, huge debts in pension and retiree health care programs, and a depleted emergency reserve. The decision by Moody’s Investors Service to lower state government’s bond rating from Aa3 to Aa2, opens the door for Connecticut […]

The state’s budget isn’t drowning, but its fiscal nose is above water by such a small fraction — 1/134th of 1 percent — it’s almost impossible to see. The latest monthly report from Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s administration, released late Friday afternoon, projects a $1.4 million surplus, with the $88 million cushion originally built into […]

South Windsor — Gov. Dannel P. Malloy used one of the new job creation tools Wednesday that state lawmakers authorized during last fall’s special session, tapping a South Windsor company to launch the new Small Business Express Program. Oxford Performance Materials, which is expected to be the first of dozens of firms to receive assistance […]

Connecticut’s cities and towns are hoping lawmakers will spend the next few months deciding to increase local education grants — even if communities don’t start to see the money for a few more years. Following the governor’s lead, education reform topped the 2012 legislative agenda released Tuesday by the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities. But the […]

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s vaunted fiscal cushion has begun to erode quickly, and an underperforming state income tax is the chief culprit. Fiscal analysts for the executive and legislative branches agreed on a consensus revenue report late Tuesday that pushes the current budget to the brink of a deficit — or possibly over it. More […]

The co-chairmen of the legislature’s Government Administration and Elections Committee called Friday afternoon for the state’s elections watchdog panel to reconsider its plans to name former Middletown Mayor Sebastian Giuliano as its new executive director. Rep. Russell Morin, D-Wethersfield, and Sen. Gayle Slossberg, D-Milford, told the State Elections Enforcement Commission by letter that Giuliano does […]

A new report shows that Gov. Dannel P. Malloy got the budget savings he was hoping for from state employee pension concessions — albeit with an assist from a rebounding Wall Street. A preliminary analysis from pension fund actuaries released Thursday shows that Connecticut should contribute $926 million to the fund this fiscal year — […]

For the first time, the state’s elections watchdog agency has chosen a politician and an outsider to lead its operations, tapping Sebastian N. Giuliano, a Republican fresh off a losing re-election campaign for mayor of Middletown. His appointment will not be formally approved by the State Elections Enforcement Commission until Jan. 18, but all five […]

State government is facing a deadline this spring to resolve an $80 million backlog in a fuel cleanup program — or risk hundreds of gasoline stations going out of business. But a state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection spokesman said the department already is mobilizing industry representatives, state legislators and the U.S. Environmental Protection […]

Simsbury — Writing new utility standards into law, complete with penalties for poor performance, topped a list of initiatives Gov. Dannel P. Malloy unveiled Wednesday to enhance Connecticut’s readiness for future weather-related crises. The governor, whose Two Storm Panel outlined its own proposals earlier this week, also endorsed enhanced tree-trimming and related measures to better […]

Selective burying of electric wires to protect critical public services, dramatically enhanced tree-trimming and new utility performance standards with penalties topped a list of recommendations issued Monday by the panel studying Connecticut’s readiness for future major storms. Now consumers must let state officials know how much more they will pay for this system, said Joseph […]

A new report showing state government’s operating cash pool is running low sparked a partisan dispute Friday between minority Republicans in the House of Representatives and Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s administration. And while House Minority Leader Lawrence F. Cafero, R-Norwalk, tried to link the cash flow problem to an unstable state budget, Office of Policy […]