Connecticut's budget deficit is increasing, taking a perilous plunge on Friday that is pushing it toward the $300 million mark, the Connecticut Mirror reports.
While the website questions whether the deficit will force Gov. Dannel P. Malloy to increase taxes — again — to cover continued budget shortfalls, Malloy last week said he would not hike state taxes, according to the Republican-American newspaper.
The growing state budget deficit, the Mirror reports, is the result of revenue shortfalls that are greater than Malloy administration officials originally anticipated. Officials in his administration blame the shortfalls on the overall weakness of the national economy. State Republican leaders, however, lay the blame on the weakening effect on the state's economy of the $1.5 billion in new taxes the Malloy administration implemented in the last year.
Malloy will present his new budget plan to the General Assembly when it meets in early 2013.
