The budget talks now have a number. Legislative leaders and Governor Dannel Malloy have agreed -- roughly -- on the size of Connecticut budget hole.
The amount they’re aiming to make up is between $350 million and $370 million. That agreement was just a first step to coming up with solutions. Now they’ll huddle to identify spending cuts that might bridge the gap.
House and Senate leaders from both parties say that the cuts the Governor has already made — largely to Medicaid reimbursement, must also be on the table as they meet to solve the crisis.
Change of Heart in Windsor Locks on Casino?
A change in administration in the town of Windsor Locks may change the landscape when it comes to the proposed third Connecticut casino. That's according to The Day, which spoke to some of the new selectmen-elect in town. The previous board had rejected the idea of siting the casino at or near Bradley Airport. But all three seats changed hands Tuesday night, and some of the incoming selectmen are willing to reopen the issue.
Distressed Sales Weigh on Market
Connecticut’s real estate market is still dogged by distressed sales — a hangover from the housing market crash that saw many properties fall into foreclosure, or homeowners underwater on their mortgages. Corelogic, the realty website, says more than 19 percent of sales in Connecticut are distressed sales — that’s twice the national average, and the fourth highest rate in the country. That could help explain why, while sales numbers have been steadily improving this year, prices have stubbornly refused to rise in the Nutmeg state.