At $190 million, the most recent deficit projection from the state Office of Fiscal Analysis puts the state on a crash course for a deficit mitigation plan.
But the governor's Office of Policy and Management doesn't agree with that figure. Just last week, the OPM estimated the state's budget shortfall to be $133 million.
Now Democratic Comptroller Kevin Lembo says the state has to get ready for a difficult time ahead.
"I think generally it is as bad as everyone is saying. It’s just a question of how bad is it really?" Lembo said Thursday.
Given the timing of the estimates and the high deficit projections, Lembo says the situation is getting serious. He will release his latest projection on April 1, and the projection from his office carries the most weight.
"The trigger is $175.9 million, so we are pretty close. It’s the comptroller’s number under current law that would trigger the 1 percent rule that would compel the governor to communicate with the legislature to put together a mitigation plan in this fiscal year," Lembo cautioned.
The discrepancies between OPM and OFA fueled bickering between the state's top Republican leaders and an official in Gov. Dannel Malloy's administration Thursday.
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State Sen. Len Fasano, a Republican who represents North Haven, referred to the governor's handling of the budget as "childish" during a press conference.
State Rep. Themis Klarides, a Republican from Derby, added to the criticism.
"Listen, we hope every day that all of these numbers increase, of course we do. But hoping and dealing with reality are two different things," she said, of the governor's budget strategy.
The governor's budget chief, Benjamin Barnes, defended his office's estimates, saying that April tax receipts will provide a more accurate picture of the state's deficit.
Malloy's Chief of Staff Mark Ojakian didn't hold back criticizing Republicans with a scathing statement.
"The only thing that’s childish is the comedy show of the GOP," he wrote. "Apparently press releases are the only thing they’re able to put down on paper, so until they publicly release a real, detailed budget of their own, they can’t be taken seriously."
