Connecticut Laying Off Another 400+ State Employees

The Department of Developmental Services announced that more than 400 workers will be laid off on top of the already 189 employees that were let go earlier this year.

More than 1,500 people have been laid off or are in the process of being laid off as of Aug. 16, according to NBC Connecticut.

The agency serves 16,000 people with developmental disabilities ever year, according to the Hartford Courant.

Gov. Dannel Malloy's administration revealed plans to convert 40 state-run group homes and other services to private operations, according to the CT Mirror. It is estimated to save the state $70 million annually.

Employees would be laid off in two stages by Jan. 1.

Commissioner of DDS Morna Murray asked that private provider agencies give hiring preference to state employees who would be laid off as part of the plan.

"The plan follows national trends and best practices for reducing publicly-run residential and larger institutional facilities and continuing on a path of providing cost effective, community-based options for individuals supported by DDS," Morna said in a memo.

State government must learn to provide high-level services more efficiently, said Office of Policy Management and Secretary Ben Barnes in a statement, according to CT News Junkie. Some transitions will be difficult for families and employees, but are necessary to move government into the future.

SEIU 1199 spokeswoman Jennifer Schneider said that if the state can find $22 million to give to the world's largest hedge fund then surely more money could be found to help disabled state residents.

DDS became the target of scorn after it was revealed the department was paying tens of millions of dollars in overtime per year at remaining state institutions, according to the Courant.

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