East Lyme Senator Applauds Passage Of Bipartisan Bill To Close State Budget Shortfall

HARTFORD, CT – Senate Republicans and Democrats passed a bipartisan deficit mitigation plan Tuesday to address the $317 million shortfall in the state budget for the current year, which ends June 30, according to a release.

“I thank my Senate colleagues for coming together to pass these two important measures with bipartisan support,” State Senator Paul Formica (Republican-East Lyme) said in release. “This is an important first step in getting the state’s finances in order so we can tackle the significant budgetary problems on the horizon.”

Formica serves as Co-Chair of the Appropriations Committee. (To sign up for the Lymes breaking news alerts and more, click here.)

The plan passed by Senate protects the $19.4 million June Pequot Payment, $1 million in privately raised money for state parks and $1 million in funding for employment opportunities and day services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Hospitals will also be held harmless to cuts.

The state’s budget reserve fund maintains a balance of approximately $30 million under the Senate’s plan. The bipartisan deficit mitigation bill transfers funds from other accounts to restore the funds identified.

“It’s important that we came to a bipartisan consensus this evening to address the fiscal condition we have encountered so late in the year,” Senator Cathy Osten (Democrat-Sprague) said in a release. “Tonight’s action sets us on a stronger fiscal footing to close out the year and allows us to focus on the much larger challenge ahead of crafting a biennial state budget.”

Following the passage of the deficit mitigation plan, the Senate also passed a deficiency bill passed in the House of Representatives last week to allow the state to continue paying for core services in the final weeks of the fiscal year. This includes funding for the Birth-to-Three program, Department of Developmental Services, Office of the Public Defender Services Commission, Department of Public Safety and Emergency Services, and Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.

“Today’s bipartisan vote in the Senate will ensure that Connecticut will end the fiscal year with a balanced budget despite the challenges presented by a deficit that emerged with only two months left in the fiscal year,” Senate President Martin M. Looney (Democrat-New Haven) said in a release. “Much difficult work remains, and tough choices lie ahead as we craft a state budget for the next biennium.”

The deficit mitigation bill now moves to the House of Representatives.

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