Rell Faces Deficit, One More Time

She's been criticized for leaving more than $3 billion worth of fiscal problems for her successor to resolve, but Gov. M. Jodi Rell will have to take one crack herself later this fall at filling what effectively represents the largest budget deficit in state history.

The administration began work earlier this month to meet its obligation to the next governor as defined under the state law.

According to a provision last exercised nearly 16 years ago, Rell must craft a plan to balance the fiscal year that begins next July 1. And according to the most recent projections from the legislature's nonpartisan Office of Fiscal Analysis, that budget has a built-in hole of $3.26 billion.