Malloy Tries To Cut $22 Million Using Line-Item Veto

Governor Malloy has employed the line-item veto to eliminate $22 million from the state budget, the first time a Connecticut governor has used that power in nine years.  Malloy’s cuts were prompted by the last-minute failure of the legislature to adopt his criminal justice reforms which would have saved approximately $15 million by reducing prison populations. Of the $22 million in cuts, about $20 million were reductions in municipal aid.  As most municipalities in the state have already finalized their local budgets, these reductions could require municipalities throughout the state to adjust their budgets accordingly, either through increased fees and revenue or, more likely at this point, reductions in services. On the other hand, the legislature has the opportunity to override Malloy’s cuts when it convenes for the veto session later this month. No line-item veto has survived an override by the legislature in 45 years so, if history is any guide, these cuts will probably suffer the same fate.