While legislators and Gov. Dannel P. Malloy scramble to close yet another hole in the current state budget, the exercise could help them solve a much larger problem. Depending on how they solve this fiscal year’s $220 million deficit — a task lawmakers have pledged to complete Tuesday — the $900 million hole built into 2016-17 finances could be whittled down by nearly one-quarter.
Labor
Posted inMoney, Politics
State union negotiator resists Malloy bid to reopen benefits pact
Gov. Dannel P. Malloy has formally asked to reopen a major benefits contract with state employees, but his request has been met with a qualified “no” from labor’s chief negotiator.
Posted inEducation, Health, Money
GOP offers cuts, furloughs to close deficit, restore hospital funds
Updated at 5 p.m.
House and Senate Republicans would furlough all state workers for two days, reduce legislators’ pay, eliminate posts in Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s administration and reduce spending for education, social services and other programs to balance state finances by June 30.
Posted inMoney
CT jobless rate rises as 2015 job growth estimates are cut in half
Despite gaining 900 jobs, Connecticut’s unemployment rate rose slightly in January from 5.4 to 5.5 percent, the state Department of Labor reported Friday. The department also significantly reduced its original job growth projections for 2015 by 14,700 jobs. That means Connecticut only has recovered 73 percent, or 86,700 of the jobs lost in the last recession.
Posted inMoney, Politics
Malloy sends early layoff warning to most of state’s workforce
Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s administration sent a letter to seven unions representing close to 70 percent of the workforce this week warning they could be affected by new agency organizational plans that “may include reductions in force.”
Posted inNews
Partisan split over state role in private-sector retirement
The investment industry and Senate Republicans lined up Tuesday against a Democratic proposal to create a state-sponsored retirement savings program for the 600,000 private-sector workers in Connecticut who have no access to a payroll savings plan.
Posted inHealth, Money, Politics
Malloy hints at layoffs before summer
Gov. Dannel P. Malloy signaled an intention Tuesday to lay off state employees in the current fiscal year, saying the workforce must shrink substantially, and that the process must begin before the fiscal year ends on June 30. Malloy spoke to reporters after a meeting with legislative leaders, where he pressed them to offer their own cost-cutting ideas.
Posted inCT Viewpoints
Saving jobs and protecting tourism is a winning combination for Connecticut
The recent groundbreaking for a casino just north of the Massachusetts border in Springfield promises to draw more customers from Connecticut than from their own region. Connecticut’s Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan Tribes are working to remain competitive in this new environment with a strategically located, jointly run facility that will directly compete with new gaming options on our border. Last session, the Connecticut General Assembly allowed the tribes to work together and accept proposals from towns interested in hosting this new facility. The tribes have been good neighbors and friends to the state for 13 generations, and business partners for the past two decades. They are asking the state to support a plan to protect jobs, business and revenue. Doing so is a win-win for all.
Posted inEducation, Money, Politics
Malloy urges rejecting UConn labor pact
After nudging legislators to reject a labor deal granting raises at the University of Connecticut, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy gave them a hard push Wednesday, publicly urging rejection of a contract the university negotiated with its Professional Employees Union. Senate leaders quickly indicated they will comply.
Posted inMoney, Politics
Malloy warns of workforce cuts, affirms opposition to tax hikes
Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s administration confirmed Friday the downward trend in state revenues — though not the precise numbers — that nonpartisan analysts reported earlier this week. While the governor never used the word “layoff,” he told reporters Friday that state government’s workforce must shrink considerably soon, and that the next state budget still must be balanced without tax hikes.
Posted inEducation, Money, Politics
Raises for UConn professionals spark broader CT budget debate
Tuesday’s debate over whether to grant raises to non-teaching professionals at the University of Connecticut reverberated Wednesday throughout the state Capitol. While some argued it weakened any chance of securing wage and benefit concessions from all state employees, others argued it was the first step toward a fairer budget debate that includes talk of tax hikes.
Posted inEducation, Money, Politics
State budget panel sends mixed message on raises for UConn professionals
Despite huge looming state budget deficits, the legislature’s Appropriations Committee sent a mixed message Tuesday on a contract granting University of Connecticut non-teaching professionals annual raises ranging from 3 to 4.5 percent over the next five years.
Posted inEducation, Money, Politics
UConn contract seems iffy as Appropriations vote nears
On the eve of a critical legislative committee vote, some members of the Democratic majority were still undecided on whether to approve a five-year salary contract for 1,900 University of Connecticut employees.
Posted inEducation, Justice, Money, Politics
Judiciary says proposed cuts ‘compromise access to justice’
Cutting $64 million from the previously approved funding for the Judicial Branch next fiscal year would result in hundreds of layoffs and force closure of multiple courthouses and a juvenile detention facility, Judge Patrick L. Carroll III, chief court administrator, told the legislature’s Appropriations Committee.
Posted inCT Viewpoints
Will Hartford prosper with peanuts and popcorn?
I have lived in Hartford for all my 38 years. I am proud to be raising my four kids here. But I’m getting angry — angry that the city’s new Dunkin Donuts stadium won’t agree to be covered by the city’s Living Wage.