By Keith M. Phaneuf, Arielle Levin Becker, and Jacqueline Rabe Thomas
Gov. Dannel P. Malloy today proposed a $19.87 billion budget that cuts most state agencies and previously approved municipal aid, and potentially eliminates “thousands” of jobs, while avoiding tax hikes to close a nearly $570 million deficit.
Gov. Dannel P. Malloy delivers his budget message today. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Ctmirror.org photo
Malloy’s plan departs dramatically from decades of past practice. Instead of spelling out how much money each department should spend on specific programs, the proposal — in many instances — largely assigns agencies a lump sum.
This approach would shift more control over line-item spending from the legislature to agency heads and the governor’s budget office.
Malloy’s proposal would reduce general fund spending 3 percent below the preliminary 2016-17 budget he and the legislature approved last June. It essentially keeps spending flat compared with the current fiscal year, increasing it by a rounding error – 1/12th of 1 percent – and would spend $720 million below the level nonpartisan analysts say is necessary to maintain current services.
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