State Representative Giegler Votes On Deficit Plan

From the Office of State Representative Jan Giegler:

State Representative Jan Giegler (R-138) today joined her Republican and Democrat colleagues and voted to pass a deficit mitigation plan that closes the state’s current fiscal year $220 million budget hole while preserving hospital and needed social service funding.

S. B. 474 - An Act Making Adjustments to the State Budget for the Biennium Ending June 30, 2017 - passed with a vote of 127-16.

"I supported today’s deficit mitigation plan because it was a good compromise bill that closes the current budget deficit and keeps our vital social services and hospitals funded,” Rep. Giegler said. “I’m encouraged by this bipartisan agreement and look forward to more areas where we can compromise and move forward with long-term structural changes to permanently repair Connecticut’s state budget process and reduce state spending.”

The plan passed today:

• Restores more than $31 million in state funding for hospitals and helps the state leverage more than $100 million in hospital funding, including federal dollars.

• Minimizes the impact on social service programs, including services to the developmentally disabled and mentally ill which will continue to be provided without interruption.

• Restores millions in proposed cuts to municipal aid.

• Avoids depleting the state’s Rainy Day Fund.

While today’s budget allows Connecticut to finish the 2016 fiscal year endingJune 30th with a balanced budget, there are still major hurdles facing the legislature in the coming years. The fiscal year 2017 budget is projected to be greater than $900 million, and could balloon to almost $4.5 billion in the next biennium.

“There is still a lot of work to do with massive budget deficits looming for 2017 and far into the future, but I’m hopeful we can continue to work together and change the way Connecticut creates and implements state budgets,” Rep. Giegler said.