The Budget Proposal has finally been released. This is the proposal that was negotiated by the Governor prior to the end of the legislative session (which ended 5/4/16) but was not brought to a vote in either chamber of the General Assembly. This proposal is expected to be up for a vote in the Senate on Thursday 5/12 and it is not yet known if the House is willing to put this to a vote.
Highlights of this budget bill for State Employees:
Reduces total personal services lines in numerous agencies by hundreds of millions of dollars, assuming between 4,000 and 5,000 staff reductions.
Backs out $10.5M in anticipated savings in overtime
Backs out $35M in anticipated savings from hiring reductions in all 3 branches of government
Maintains Contracting Standards Board and funds it at $274K, a $28.5K cut
Reestablishes the State Elections Enforcement Commission, the Office of State Ethics and the Freedom of Information Commission as independent agencies, but cuts them collectively by almost $1M.
Requires non-union state employees to pay higher health insurance premiums and co-pays, saving $5.5M
Eliminates funding for vacant positions in the Comptroller’s Office ($224K)
Makes significant reductions in Comptroller fringe benefit accounts to reflect anticipated layoffs - $65M
Cuts $90K in Unemployment Compensation
Cuts $67M from Reserve for Salary Adjustments
....there will be a phone banking effort at AFT-CT Tuesday 5/10 and Wednesday 5/11 (35 Marshall Road, Rocky Hill, CT @ 5:30 to 8:00). All members are encouraged to attend. The objective is to have state employees call/email their legislators and ask them to vote "no" on this budget proposal and demand a fair budget that doesn't harm the middle class...who are your legislators? We have a list of A&R members and our legislators.