In This Together CT

http://www.journalinquirer.com/articles/2009/02/24/connecticut/doc49a3ff1ad3480930177192.txt

By Keith M. Phaneuf
Journal Inquirer

Published: Tuesday, February 24, 2009 9:10 AM EST

HARTFORD — Gov. M. Jodi Rell began the task of trimming state government late last week when she issued an executive order eliminating six state boards and commissions.The governor, whose budget proposal consolidates or eliminates 23 larger agencies or departments, needs approval from the General Assembly to take that step. Similarly, most of the 70 smaller boards and commissions Rell wants to eliminate also need legislative endorsement.

Still, the governor chose to act now to shut down those six boards that were her exclusive jurisdiction.

That includes the Governor’s Committee on Physical Fitness, the Advisory Commission on American and Francophone Cultural Affairs, the Governor’s Competitiveness Council, the Governor’s Small Business Advisory Council, the Governor’s Identity Theft Advisory Board, and the Governor’s Early Childhood Research and Policy Council.

“These task forces and commissions have served many useful purposes, but they were created in better fiscal times and now more than ever, Connecticut needs a smaller and less intrusive government,” Rell said. “For decades, both the size of government and its role in our citizens’ lives have been expanding. By eliminating these agencies, we take the first steps toward my comprehensive goal of downsizing and streamlining state government.”

The cost savings from eliminating these boards is expected to be minimal. In most cases, the main expense involves reimbursing board members for mileage to meetings and related board events.

With this fiscal year’s $18.4 billion state budget anywhere from $944 million to $1.35 billion in deficit, and the next two fiscal years facing built-in shortfalls that total between $6 billion and $9 billion, Rell has said she wants to streamline state government to provide only the most necessary, core functions.

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