Malloy tells leaders he won't cut local aid

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) - Gov. Dannel P. Malloy assured Connecticut mayors and first selectmen on Wednesday that he does not expect cuts in state aid to cities and towns next year.

Headlining the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities' annual convention, Malloy told local leaders that his administration plans to honor those funding commitments — included in the second year of the two-year state budget — "no matter how difficult" future budgetary challenges might become.

"For the first time in a number of years, four or five, you can expect us to fulfill our promises with respect to our commitments," said Malloy, a former mayor of Stamford and a former president of CCM.

Connecticut government operates on a two-year budget. Often, changes are made to the second year of the biennial tax-and-spending plan, given fluctuations in revenues and spending commitments.

"Just as I didn't seek to balance on the budget on their backs in adopting a two-year program, I don't expect to balance the budget on their backs in fulfilling the second year of that budget commitment," Malloy said after his address, where he received a standing ovation from the crowd. Many are pleased he did not cut aid to cities and towns as governors in other states have done to help fill state deficits.

Malloy also assured the local leaders that his administration is working to make it easier for job creation in their cities and towns. He said he is trying to speed up state permitting processes, reminding his commissioners that "time is money" and a "decision delayed actually has consequences."

Malloy has called state lawmakers back for a special session on job creation on Oct. 26. Some ideas for the legislation will be culled from an economic summit, organized by Malloy's office and scheduled for Thursday at the Connecticut Convention Center.