Some hope for ending state budget impasse

Hartford — Connecticut state legislators watched the seasons change as they’ve grappled with how to balance a budget that’s beset by a multi-billion-dollar deficit.

But as the temperatures have grown cooler, there’s now some hope that lawmakers could be finally warming to the notion of reaching a bipartisan agreement.

For the past week, Democratic and Republican legislative leaders have been holed up in the state Capitol, without Democratic Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, combing line-by-line through budget documents. They said they have been discussing ways to not only cover a projected $3.5 billion deficit in a roughly $40 billion two-year budget, but to make lasting fiscal changes in hopes of stopping what’s become a cycle of budget crises in one of the nation’s wealthiest states.

“I think what we’ve done over the last few days has been a really good step forward and I think we’re moving in the right direction,” said Democratic House Speaker Joe Aresimowicz, of Berlin.

“Getting there is tough, but we’re taking a step forward each and every day,” he added, without committing to when or if a final deal may be reached.

This all comes as lawmakers face mounting pressure from municipalities, schools and nonprofit social service agencies to reach a deal. Connecticut has been without a budget since the fiscal year began July 1 and that has led to program cuts and layoffs.

Sagging state revenues, slow economic and job growth, a court ruling that determined Connecticut’s education funding system is unconstitutional and a General Assembly with the closest partisan make-up in recent history are among the host of reasons why the state still does not have a budget in place. Since Malloy kicked off the budget process in February, the projected deficit has worsened.