Gov. Dannel P. Malloys administration
unveiled plans Tuesday that would privatize 40 state-run group homes and a host
of services for the intellectually disabled and eliminate the need for 605
state jobs, saving Connecticut
almost $70 million annually by next fiscal year.
The changes at the Department of Developmental Services are
planned to comply with a major reorganization and savings initiative the
governor and the General Assembly ordered in May when they adopted the latest
state budget.
The administration, which already has laid
off 113 DDS employees, would eliminate another 492 workers in two stages, most
happening after Jan. 1.
That means 25 percent of the full-time positions
at the state agency are being eliminated.
The projected savings factor in the additional costs the
state will incur by paying private providers to offer services to the
thousands of clients currently receiving them from state employees.