Updated 5/18/16

AFT CT Legislative "Wrap-up"

Highlights of the Budget Implementer

The amended budget which was brought forth in a Special Session of the General Assembly passed in the Senate on a party line vote on 5/12.  The House passed the budget by a narrow 74-70 vote on 5/13.

Although the budget that passed is still a job-killing budget, this budget was somewhat different than the proposal that never made it to the floor during the regular session.  In particular, the budget that passed does NOT transfer all A&R Staff Attorneys to the AGs office as the original budget proposed.  This budget

5/11/16

Apparently leaders in the General Assembly were under the impression that SEBAC had taken a vote and rejected a concession offer from the Governor's Office.  This is not the case.  SEBAC has not been asked for any concessions.  The Governor's Office did tell SEBAC that they want 0% wage increases, layoffs, and changes to the SEBAC agreement - yet no request for concessions has been made.  However, this is not the message that the Governor's Office has given to legislative leaders.  SEBAC felt it necessary to send this open letter to the Legislators.

To be certain, the administration has

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

Twenty three hours before the legislative session ends,apparently the Governor and the Democratic leadership at the legislature reached a budget agreement.  We have not seen the agreement other than this condensed version.  The agreement is not yet in the form of a bill, however, it is expected that it will be voted on before midnight tonight (5/4/16).

Based on the large cuts to Personal Services, this budget could result in a 10% reduction in the State workforce (via retirements, attrition, and layoffs).  We have our work cut out for us.  We will try to get a better handle on this as more

With just a few days remaining in the current legislative session, there is a scramble at the Capitol to balance the 2015/16 budget shortfall and the projected 2016/17 budget shortfall. 

Updated revenue numbers fall short of expectations by roughly $40 million.  That sets the current fiscal deficit at $250 million and pushes the FY16/17 defecit to a projected $950 million.

The Democrats released a budget on 4/28 which was quickly rejected by the Governor and essentially died over the weekend.  That budget proposal was very impactful to A&R as it targeted A&R Staff Attorneys for layoffs and moved

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