Stamford Democratic Mayor Dannel Malloy was at the capitol today and briefly stopped by the GOP’s hearing on the state budget deficit to listen to testimony by budget staff.
He predicted that the around $300 million deficit projected for the current, 2009 fiscal year would grow to between $500 million and $800 million in the coming months.
Like many other municipal leaders, Malloy is concerned Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rell and the Democrat-run General Assembly will cut municipal aid to cities and towns to address deficits of around $1 billion in 2010, 2011 and 2012.
“These are worse than what I had assumed would be the case,” Malloy said in a brief interview outside the hearing room. “There’s a real structural problem here.”
Malloy, who tried to run for Governor in 2006 but lost the Democratic primary, has said he plans to again seek his party’s nomination for Governor in 2010 should Attorney General Richard Blumenthal of Greenwich again decline the opportunity.
So, if Malloy were running the state now, what would he do about the budget hole?
“Legislative leadership and the Governor have got to start having frank and honest discussions,” Malloy said, adding more important than his ideas are the plans of the Republican leaders running today’s hearing.
“What’s Larry’s answer?” Malloy said, referring to House Minority Leader Lawrence Cafero, R-Norwalk. “What does Larry want?”
