The director of the state legislature’s nonpartisan budget office, Alan P. Calandro of Burlington, announced Thursday he is leaving to take a post at the University of Connecticut. Calandro oversaw a dramatic expansion in the online posting of state budget documents, analyses and databases.
Office of Fiscal Analysis
Posted inCT Viewpoints
Connecticut death penalty ruling ends costly, ineffective policy
The Connecticut Supreme Court’s ruling that our state’s capital punishment law is unconstitutional has fulfilled all of the objectives of the Connecticut Network to Abolish the Death Penalty. The ruling has put an end to a broken policy that prolonged the legal process, and as a result sometimes inflicted additional harm on murder victims’ families.
Posted inCT Viewpoints
Connecticut two steps closer to educational equity
On May 19, the Connecticut legislature took two important strides in an attempt to achieve educational equity. On that day the Senate passed bill SB 398 and the House passed HB 6844. If these bills pass and are signed by Gov. Dannel Malloy, it would continue to pave the pathway toward educational equity of two disenfranchised groups in Connecticut—undocumented and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) students.
Posted inCT Viewpoints
Diaper on, Connecticut! (And let’s lose the diaper tax)
It’s time for Connecticut legislators to free families from the diaper tax, giving them and their children the same boost as states like Massachusetts, Minnesota and New Jersey. The Connecticut Office of Fiscal Analysis has determined that liberating baby diapers from the state sales tax would free up $4.3 million annually, thereby leaving moms and dads with more money to care for their babies.
Posted inMoney, Politics
Larger deficit looms as Malloy warns of more emergency cuts
Nonpartisan fiscal analysts again asserted Wednesday that the current state budget deficit is worse than Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s administration has reported — and that’s despite a recent administration estimate that more than doubled the shortfall. And while the Office of Fiscal Analysis was issuing its $191 million deficit forecast, Malloy’s budget chief directed all agencies Wednesday to brace for a third round of emergency cuts and to ensure spending is “significantly curtailed” between now and the fiscal year’s close on June 30.
Posted inMoney, Politics
Lembo backs Malloy’s assessment of smaller CT deficit
State Comptroller Kevin P. Lembo gave Gov. Dannel P. Malloy a big vote of fiscal confidence Monday, certifying that Connecticut’s $89.4 budget shortfall is well below the emergency level of one percent, or $174.6 million.
Posted inMoney, Politics
Will Malloy be forced to send deficit closure plan to legislators?
If nonpartisan legislatie analysts are right – and if Comptroller Kevin P. Lembo agrees – the deficit is at least $50 million worse than Gov. Dannel P. Malloy reported last week.
Posted inMoney, Politics
Malloy doesn’t get predicted revenue boost, big deficits remain
Connecticut’s economy has not eased the state’s budget crisis as Gov. Dannel P. Malloy predicted on the campaign trail last year. A new analysts’ report Thursday found tax receipts and other revenues still likely to grow as originally anticipated last summer – when major deficits were projected for the next two fiscal years.
Posted inMoney, Politics
Malloy gets two extra weeks to solve next budget deficit
Despite insisting throughout the campaign that state government really wasn’t facing a deficit next year, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy asked for and received legislative approval Wednesday to postpone his next budget presentation by two weeks until Feb. 18.
Posted inMoney, Politics
It’s official: CT’s budget is $89 million to $100 million in the red
The state budget received its first official deficit reports Friday when nonpartisan legislative analysts and Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s administration projected shortfalls ranging from $89 million to just under $100 million. Budget director Benjamin Barnes, insisted it quickly would be closed, and reasserted Malloy’s insistence that tax hikes are not an option. (File photo: Gov. Malloy and budget director Barnes)
Posted inMoney, Politics
CT budget again faces red ink as federal grants, gaming revenues shrink
Despite a small bump upward in state tax receipts, new cracks in state finances surfaced Monday that could contribute to a budget deficit forecast by week’s end. A joint report by nonpartisan analysts and by Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s administration projects total revenues will fall about $59 million below the level built into this year’s budget. (Photo: Benjamin Barnes, state budget director)
Posted inMoney, Politics
After all the campaign promises, a lot of tough choices loom
Though Connecticut’s gubernatorial contenders spent more time this fall talking about tax cuts than state budget deficits, the red ink awaiting the winner of Tuesday’s contest is very real – and can’t be wiped away without tough choices.
Posted inMoney
Nonpartisan analysts tracking $84M in potential cost overruns in state budget
Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s administration isn’t projecting any troubles for the current state budget, but the legislature’s nonpartisan analysts have identified almost $84 million in potential problems. The Office of Fiscal Analysis reported “deficiencies” or potential cost-overruns in five areas.
Posted inEducation
Raising Connecticut’s kindergarten age — a help or a harm?
Personal anecdotes conflict with numerous studies saying socioeconomic status and other factors outweigh age in determining success in school. The age a child starts kindergarten has nothing to do with his or her long-term academic success, those studies say.
Posted inEducation, Health, Money, Politics
Analysts: Malloy’s budget for Connecticut never was balanced
Just one month from adopting the next state budget, legislators have learned the $19 billion plan they got from Gov. Dannel P. Malloy has a $70 million hole in it, according to a new report from nonpartisan analysts. Republican legislative leaders say the shortfall happened because the administration dismissed a warning about rising health care costs five months ago.
