Today is the last day of the legislative session and two Democratic legislators said Tuesday that they're on the verge of reaching a deal with Gov. M. Jodi Rell on a revised budget for the next fiscal year.
The lawmakers of the General Assembly's budget and tax committees said late Tuesday that a deal was imminent.
Rell and lawmakers have been trying to fill a $1.3 billion hole that was intentionally included in the second year of the two-year, $37.6 billion budget, as well as a projected $700 million deficit.
Rep. Cameron Staples, the co-chairman of the tax committee, said the tentative agreement does not raise any new taxes in an election year.
It also reduces borrowing, relies on tax collections and delays a payment to the state employee pension fund.
The fate of many other bills hangs in the balance, including domestic violence reforms, workers compensation coverage for police who kill a mammal and the confirmation of nine Superior Court judges.
One bill the Senate approved on Tuesday will give the UConn Health Center in Farmington an overhaul, renovate John Dempsey Hospital and increase classroom and lab space for the medical school. The estimated cost is $362 million. Rell is expected to approve it.
