March 2, 2009 - Budget Suggestions

• Include all levels of state employees when considering concessions – managers and administrative personnel should not be left out of the conversation.  At Corrections, the managerial class has grown substantially over the last decade for no apparent reason. 
• De-centralize large state agencies which have central offices and eliminate the extra layers.  Put employees back into the field where they use to be – helping the public. 
• Cannot balance the budget on the backs of state employees – in the long run, it will be the services they provide to the public that will be lost.  Evaluate other options such as contracts for coaches, and there should be wage freezes for employees across the boards. 
• Utilize low-level prisoners scheduled for release between 1-2 years to keep highways, parks, beaches, etc. clean – reduce their sentence by a week for every day they work.
• Repeat the message more than once when there is going to be a delayed opening. 
• Allow for managers to claim up to 2 hours for arriving late in bad weather – all non-essential union employees have such language in their contracts.  Doing this will save on the extra money being paid to essential union employees when there is a delayed opening.
• Require individuals to submit their true financial information – not their “self-declared” income when apply for Husky.  In addition, if children are already on one of their parent’s insurance plans, and the other parent applies for the family because they want  coverage for themselves – they should be denied.
• Follow the insurance industry when it comes to secretarial support – in some cases they have one secretary supporting up to 75 people.  The functions of secretaries have changed significantly over the last decade – they should be doing more than just ordering supplies.  If not, then the number of secretaries should be reduced. 
• Re-regulate electricity charges to both private citizens as well as small businesses. 
• Increase revenue by legalizing marijuana and administering its sale and tax to be sold in pharmacies as well as in liquor stores.  Apply law enforcement standards currently used for alcohol.  This would save money in not having to chase drug dealers and generate huge revenues.
• Bring back tolls – especially near the state-lines and make safety a priority.  In exchange for tolls, lower the gas tax by 50%.
• Allow state employees to take winter storm days as furlough days – more employees would be willing to take the unpaid time on these days.  Many call of out work anyway – offering furlough days would save money.
• Enforce immigration laws already on the books – either enforce these laws or change them.  Significant cost savings are possible through enforcement – welfare payments, social security benefits, unemployment, etc.
• If committing to layoffs, executive staff, such as Deputy Commissioners, should be part of the equation.  The state’s executive staff should not have received raises and bonuses – rank and file cannot be blamed for every deficit the state experiences.  Also, the early retirement plan should be approved.
• Evaluate all job positions within an agency and red circle all that cannot be credibly justified. 
• Maintain benefits and pay for state employees – otherwise, nobody will want to work for the state except for those with limited skills and less than sufficient education.  Benefits and pay attract the best candidates and these candidates provide the best service.
• Consideration of options – furloughs will provide the state with savings when they are needed; wage freezes take from the employees every year the employee continues to work – even if the state is not in a financial crisis.  Will all citizens of CT send a check to the state every year so the burden is equally shared?
• Put the tolls back on the interstate highways and utilize an EZ pass system.  In addition, fix the income tax system – make it a flat rate and eliminate all of the loopholes and deductions.  Between these two approaches, gas and sales taxes could be lowered.
• Stop providing Husky to children of divorced parents who are eligible for private health insurance from the other parent – if either parent can provide insurance, they should.