Senate Leadership
May 12, 2008
Senate President, House Speaker, to Take Action on Cost Cutting Measures SEBAC Agreement, Mitigation Plan, Legislative Staff Givebacks
Hartford: As part of cost saving measures for both the current fiscal year and the upcoming biennial budget, House Speaker Christopher G. Donovan (D-Meriden) and Senate President Donald E. Williams, Jr. (D-Brooklyn) are proposing the following measures:
- The Senate and the House will vote on ratifying the recently negotiated SEBAC agreement this week, with action in the House perhaps as early as tomorrow. Concessions total approximately $700 million over the next two-plus years, including approximately $80 million in the current fiscal year.
- The Senate and the House are working on details of a fifth deficit mitigation plan to address the current fiscal year deficit. Legislative action is expected early next week.
- Legislative leaders are directing legislative employees to participate in a program of givebacks including a wage freeze for FY10, benefits concessions, and furlough days that will save approximately $5 million.
Senator Williams said, “The current fiscal crisis requires sacrifice at every level of government. These cost cutting measures will cost state employees and their families thousands of dollars but they are necessary as we continue to search for savings. In addition, we’re working on details of a 5th budget mitigation plan which will address the current fiscal year deficit. The bottom line is that even with this action, we have much more to do to solve the budget crisis. It is important that we work together to address the deficits in the current fiscal year and the biennial budget.”
Speaker Donovan said, “Our economic challenges demand that we move forward with difficult decisions. I’ve said all along that everyone will have to share in the responsibility for closing our deficits. State employees have made that commitment; we expect no less from our legislative employees. We will be dealing with the current year shortfall with new mitigation measures that I hope the Governor will work with us to accomplish. We have a great deal to do. This moves us forward in important ways.”
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Senator Williams’ Derek Slap |
Listing of Leadership’s recent press releases. |
Senator Looney’s Derek Slap |
