First round of major budget cuts, $170M

HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) -- The Governor is imposing some big cuts in the state budget to stop the red ink, and this is only the first round in the budget cutting.

"I think everybody needs to take a deep breath, we're going to get through it. This is part of a slog to turn the state around, that's what we're doing," Gov. Malloy said.

In this first round Malloy is cutting over $32 million from the Department of Social Services, that includes things like old age assistance and medical emergency assistance for the poor.

Over $21 million in cuts to the Department of Developmental Services, which includes residential and employment opportunities for the mentally challenged.

Over 18 million in cuts to the Department of Children and Families.

Over 21 million in cuts to the state college and university system, which could result in tuition hikes.

Over 8 million in cuts to the Department of Education which covers things like magnet schools and priority school districts.

Under state law the Governor's authority to make budget cuts is somewhat limited. $170 million in cuts is the maximum he can do. The other approximately $200 million in cuts will have to be made in consultation with the legislature. That shoe is expected to drop within the next two weeks.

"Nobody likes cutting services but when you take a tax increase off the table you have limited options to act unilaterally, that's where the money is spent," Roy Occhiogrosso, the Governor's Senior Advisor, said.

The Governor's top aides faced reporters late this afternoon and explained that they had no choice but to make cuts to the state's safety net and that in the next round, they admitted, state facilities will be closed.

"We're looking at a very broad range of potential reductions for the deficit mitigation program as well as for the budget for the upcoming biennium, so I, yes, I can't think of them off the top of my head and if I could, I wouldn't tell you," Ben Barnes the State Budget Director said.

Obviously the administration wants to tell the agencies involved before they tell News 8 but the last time we were faced with this kind of scenario, the facilities slated for closing were court houses and DMV offices.

We should know more early next month.

The list of rescissions and transmittal letter are available here .