Impact of DEEP budget cuts outlined for state lawmakers

Twenty-seven more positions will be left vacant while overtime, travel and use of state vehicles will be reduced and there will be a longer wait for response to spills and wildlife calls.

In addition, obtaining permits and enforcement of environmental regulations may take longer and local emergency crews may have to handle more incidents as a result of almost $10 million in cuts to the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection’s current budget.

On Monday, DEEP Commissioner Robert Klee met with members of the legislature’s Environment Committee to outline how the agency is absorbing the 14 percent reduction in the funds it receives from the state’s General Fund. Of the agency’s total $178.6 million budget for fiscal 2016, about 37 percent — $61.5 million — will come from the General Fund. The remainder comes from a mix of federal funds, revenues from utilities regulated by DEEP’s energy division, transportation funds and other sources. DEEP originally anticipated receiving $71.3 million in General Fund revenues, but, like all other state agencies, saw deep cuts as Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and the legislature worked to achieve savings to close a deficit. In fiscal 2014-15, the agency received $70.8 million in General Fund revenues.

In the presentation Monday, Klee reviewed the impact of the cuts. DEEP staff, which numbered 869 in fiscal 2012-13, fell to 836 in 2014-15, and totals 809 employees this year.

Read more: http://www.theday.com/local/20160718/impact-of-deep-budget-cuts-outlined-for-state-lawmakers