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STAMFORD, Conn. More than 6,500 state workers would lose their jobs under a revised proposal released Friday by Gov. Dannel Malloy to balance the state's $1.6 billion deficit. The proposed cuts represent 14 percent of the workforce and would impact nearly every level of state government.
Locally, the Stamford Center for the Arts could lose some major grant funding as part of Malloy's proposal, and particularly hard hit would be social service agencies and the Department of Transportation.
Elimination of 6,560 positions among the workforce of 46,290 employees would be realized through layoffs, retirements, unfilled vacancies and cutting part-time and per diem jobs.
State agencies hit hardest under Malloy's proposal include the Department of Transportation, which would lose 884 jobs and result in train fare hikes; the Department of Correction, 863 jobs; and the Department of Developmental Services, 500 positions.
Social service agencies will be hit hard, too. Job cuts to the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services include 474 positions and the Department of Children and Families would lose 362 jobs.
"The plan we are submitting today (Friday) to the legislature contains a lot of painful spending cuts. Coupled with the list of layoffs we released yesterday, we are entirely aware of the impact this plan will have on the lives of thousands of our fellow state employees and their families, and people across Connecticut who have become used to a certain level of services provided by state government," Malloy and Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman said in a joint statement.
They said lacking an agreement with state unions, the proposal was the only way to close the massive budget gap. "As everyone knows, we would have preferred to achieve these objectives by reaching an agreement with our state fellow employees.
"Connecticut is in the midst of the worst fiscal crisis it's faced in many, many years. Without an agreement (with the unions), the only way out requires us to make the tough, painful decisions we've made," according to the statement.
"Through a mix of layoffs and painful spending cuts we have eliminated the $1.6 billion deficit. This budget is balanced honestly, and it begins the long overdue process of downsizing Connecticut's state government to make it one that taxpayers can afford," Malloy and Wyman said.
Malloy and Wyman left open the possibility the plan could still be changed. "We would remind everyone that if the Legislature would like to remove a cut we've made from the budget, they have to replace it with another cut of the same value, and there aren't a lot of good options out there."
What is your reaction to the governor's massive cuts to balance the budget? Let us know in a comment below.
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