Layoffs for State Workers as CT Legislature Works to Close Budget Gap

In wake of Connecticut's looming budget crisis, Department of Corrections Commissioner Scott Semple informed employees on Thursday that 147 workers would be laid off due to the budget shortfall. Shortly after Semple's announcement, Gov. Dannel Malloy told reporters on Friday that as many as 2,000 state workers could lose their jobs.

Officials had warned last week that state employees would be getting layoff notices, NBC Connecticut reported. Malloy said the 147 figure only applied to DOC workers and is not the official number of layoff notices distributed to employees, the Hartford Courant reports.

While Malloy declined to provide an exact number, he said vacancies and retirements would help offset the layoffs.

Announcing the layoffs in a memo, Semple said it was an, "extremely difficult decisions." He added that the department is committed to maintain core services "with an emphasis on safety and security."

Malloy's spokesman Devon Puglia told the Courant no other commissioners have sent out layoff notices. The layoffs come as a result of the $933 million budget gap officials are working to close.

>>>more via NBC Connecticut

>>>more via the Hartford Courant

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