budget

Final budget negotiations between Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont and legislative leaders are expected to begin on Tuesday. The governor is optimistic a deal will soon be reached.

The agreement includes some changes to the state’s bail reform laws, the renewal of a popular pandemic-era rule that allows restaurants to serve alcoholic drinks to go, and a temporary halt to the state’s gasoline taxes.

It is focused on addressing the social and economic cost of COVID-19, said state Senator Cathy Osten, co-chair of the committee.

Senate Deputy Majority Leader Mike Gianaris confirmed changes to the state's landmark 2019 criminal justice reforms are close to being settled.

Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie said the extender ensures that 62,000 state employees who work at hospitals, prisons and other institutional settings will be paid on time Wednesday.

The spending plan was due this past Friday, but Gov. Kathy Hochul and the Legislature failed to come to an agreement.

Gov. Kathy Hochul said she expects criminal justice changes to be included in the final spending plan.

The funding of local projects by the Environmental Bond Act was disrupted by the pandemic given the financial uncertainty of the state.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul on Tuesday released a $216 billion state budget that includes what she said are “pandemic recovery” programs.

Budget watchdogs are warning, though, that the governor should also be ready for potential economic downturns in an uncertain time.