HARTFORD -- The number of possible state employee layoffs continues to swell as Governor Dannel P. Malloy and lawmakers struggle to balance the budget.
What was originally thought to be 500 or 600 state job cuts could now be in the thousands, according to The Hartford Courant.
Faced with a projected deficit of more than $220 million in the current fiscal year and over four times that next year, Malloy urging legislative leaders to act quickly as time if running out to get something done.
After a private meeting with top lawmakers, Malloy outlined his budget-cutting ideas totaling nearly $129 million including $6 million in layoffs and retirements.
Malloy also proposed reducing non-education state aid to cities and towns by $20 million and cutting funds to private providers of social services by $51 million.
The Governor asked legislative leaders to return their budget-cutting proposals by next Monday. Everyone in the meeting agreed to iron out a budget deal before the legislative session ends on May 4.
The current fiscal year, which ends on June 30, is at least $220 million in deficit. The new fiscal year, which begins on July 1, could be $900 million in deficit.