Office of Policy and Management

 

 

 

 

 

At a Glance

 

BRENDA L. SISCO, Acting Secretary

Michael J. Cicchetti, Deputy Secretary

Established - 1977

Statutory authority – CGS Sec. 4-65a

Central office - 450 Capitol Avenue, 

             Hartford, CT  06106

Average number of full-time employees - 130

Recurring operating expenses –

General Fund - $137,000,871 (Includes $118,694,239 Grants-In-Aid)

Private/Federal Funds - $37,985,421; Capital Outlay - $32,655,819

 

 

Agency Mission

The Office of Policy and Management (OPM) reports directly to the Governor and provides information and analysis that the Governor uses to formulate public policy goals for the State. OPM also assists State agencies and municipalities in implementing policy decisions on behalf of the people of Connecticut. OPM prepares the Governor’s budget proposal and implements and monitors the execution of the budget as adopted by the General Assembly and signed by the Governor.

 

 

Improvements/Achievements 2009–10

·         Provided ongoing support, evaluation and analysis to the Secretary and the Governor in support of executive budget allotments in fiscal year 2010 due to the delay in adoption of a State budget.  By issuing allotments under the Governor’s executive authority, continuity of essential government operations was provided until a budget was adopted in September, 2010.

·         Monitored implementation of the fiscal year 2010 budget.  Due to the continuing impact of the national recession on the State’s economy, Connecticut experienced erosion in revenues, resulting in three rounds of allotment rescissions and the development of a deficit mitigation plan with associated legislation as required under State law. The combined impact of these actions reduced the State’s fiscal year 2010 deficit by over $500 million.  Additionally, with the nascent economic recovery, deficit mitigation efforts, and the Administration’s management of expenditures, the State achieved over $500 million in lapses and ended the fiscal year with a surplus of more than $449 million.

·      Pursuant to the agreement between the State and the coalition of State employee unions, OPM worked with the Department of Administrative Services to ensure that State employees impacted by the consolidation of State facilities and agencies as well as the Retirement Incentive Program were placed in other available positions.

·         Provided ongoing support, evaluation and analysis to the Secretary and the Governor in producing budget adjustments for fiscal year 2011.  These budget adjustments included a plan for financing or securitizing revenues in order to achieve budgetary balance.  Provided budgetary and economic analysis to allow this financing plan to be reduced from an originally budgeted $1.29 billion to a revised budgeted figure of $956 million.  It is anticipated that the fiscal year 2010 surplus will, by law, reduce the actual amount borrowed to less than $700 million.  Additionally, as the State’s budget situation deteriorated over the past two years, OPM was called upon to ensure that the State did not exceed the statutory bonding limit which would have prevented the State from issuing any new bonds for critical capital projects.  As such, OPM undertook an exhaustive review of old bond authorizations and identified nearly $400 million in authorizations to be cancelled as part of the Governor’s Budget adjustment proposal.  OPM then worked closely with the Legislature to refine the ultimate list of cancellations.

·         Analyzed, evaluated and performed cost benefit analysis for seventeen Interim Space Requests proposed by agencies.  These requests totaled over 373,000 square feet of leased space, of which OPM disapproved over 85,000 square feet, which will result in an estimated five year cost savings of $8.6 million based upon current average per square foot lease costs paid by the State.

·         In conjunction with the State Treasurer’s Office, OPM wrote the Plan for the Sale of State Assets, which identified available State property assets, the sale of which would result in $60 million in net proceeds.

·      Sponsored two criminal justice cross-training conferences designed to promote dialogue between criminal justice partners regarding current and future interagency partnership and collaboration. Approximately 600 employees, stakeholders and practitioners in Connecticut's criminal justice system participated in the conferences.

·         Continued to provide leadership to government stakeholders within the Connecticut criminal justice community through the successful implementation of the Criminal Justice Policy Advisory Commission.

·         Continued to provide annual statistical analyses to support policy development for prison capacity and recidivism issues within the Connecticut criminal justice system.

·         Continued successful implementation of the Connecticut Partnership for Long-Term Care, the State’s public/private partnership with private insurers which educates Connecticut residents about long-term care planning and provides an innovative financing option.  This past year, significant numbers of Connecticut residents applied for and purchased Partnership-approved policies with the program surpassing the 52,000 mark for policies purchased.

·         Continued development and implementation of numerous initiatives to provide alternatives to nursing facility care through a multi-agency effort coordinated by OPM.  Assisted living services have been made available in State-funded congregate housing, federally-funded HUD housing facilities, private pay assisted living facilities and subsidized assisted living communities in Glastonbury, Hartford, Middletown and Seymour as part of the Assisted Living Demonstration project with over 610 residents actively enrolled in the programs as of June 30, 2010 and over 2,100 residents served since the programs began.  

·         Produced the State’s Long-Term Care Plan (Plan) in January, 2010.  The Plan, which is mandated to be completed every three years, is a comprehensive analysis of Connecticut’s long-term care system, including recommendations on how to improve the system. The Plan is produced by the Long-Term Care Planning Committee, which is comprised of nine State agency representatives and twelve legislators.  OPM chairs and staffs the Planning Committee. 

·         Developed a standard Request For Proposal (RFP) for Purchase of Service (POS) procurements as a means to achieve greater standardization across the State’s health and human services agencies with respect to their POS procurements.  The standard RFP must be used for all POS competitive procurements released on or after September 14, 2009.

·         Developed a Request For Applications (RFA) for the new Nonprofit Collaboration Incentive Grant Program (NCIGP), which provides funding for one-time infrastructure costs to implement consolidations of programs and services resulting from the collaboration of two or more nonprofit organizations. 

·         Assisted in accepting and processing claims for technical assistance grants to fifty municipalities under the Housing for Economic Growth grant program.  Staff continue to process paperwork and administer payments that will ultimately exceed $1 million dollars to allow for the creation of Incentive Housing overlay zones.  These zones encourage communities to create workforce housing in communities around the State, from large urban areas to small rural towns.

·         Issued “A Review of Regional Tax-Based Revenue Sharing Programs and Establishment of Regional Asset Districts” pursuant to Section 4-124t of the Connecticut General Statutes.  This report focused on regional tax-based revenue sharing models available in other states, a review of the current Connecticut laws, and recommendations relating to the institution of revenue sharing programs and the creation of regional asset districts.

·         Provided labor relations training sessions for human resource professionals.  Tailored the training to be used with individual agencies and for the State of Connecticut Human Resources Certificate Program.

·         Received and processed 1,500 new labor relations grievances.  Represented the State at arbitration and prohibited practice hearings regarding pension, State Coalition on Pay Equity, and Objective Job Evaluations issues.      

·         Received four American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 federal energy grants in the amount of $52 million that will support both new and existing programs.  The State Energy Program grant ($38.5 million) is being used to expand existing energy efficiency and renewable programs.  Two new renewable energy incentive programs (solar thermal and geothermal technologies) are also being supported by this grant.  The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant ($9.6 million) is being channeled to local communities to undertake energy or environmental projects.  Municipalities received a “base grant” representing in total 90% of the available funding.  The remaining funds are being used to support regional (multi-town) projects.  The State Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Program ($3.4 million) has supported a statewide consumer rebate program for selected Energy Star appliances.  Rebate levels varied from $50 to $500 depending on the appliance purchased.  The Energy Assurance Planning grant ($0.5 million) is used to support energy emergency planning efforts, with particular emphasis on crafting an updated State Energy Emergency Plan.  Connecticut has been recognized as a leader in the nation for its ability to administer these federal stimulus energy grants.

·         Distributed $12.4 million of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 federal criminal justice funds to 159 Connecticut towns and 11 statewide projects.  These funds were managed using a Web portal developed by OPM for use by municipalities and other grantees to submit applications, request cash disbursements and submit required reports to OPM. 

·         OPM, in partnership with the Capital City Economic Development Authority (CCEDA), continued its role in the development of Adriaen’s Landing, a mixed-use economic development project in Hartford that includes the Connecticut Convention Center and Connecticut Science Center.  Working with a private developer, OPM and CCEDA are currently overseeing development of the Front Street entertainment/residential district. Phase I, including 70,000 square feet of restaurant/retail space and a 260-space State-owned parking garage, will be completed in the summer of 2010.  Preliminary discussions have also been held with the private developer for construction of Phase II.  OPM and CCEDA continued their role overseeing construction of the Grove Street Connector, a pedestrian overpass linking the Convention Center with the Science Center, Riverfront Plaza and the Connecticut River. The Connector, scheduled to open in the fall of 2010, will also enhance pedestrian access to the adjacent Constitution Plaza and, in turn, other sites in Downtown Hartford.

·         OPM continued its role in overseeing the Stadium at Rentschler Field, a 40,000-seat open-air sports and entertainment facility and home field of the University of Connecticut (UConn) Husky football team in East Hartford. OPM executed a land donation agreement and related easements with United Technologies Corporation (UTC), under which UTC gave the State approximately 70 acres of land adjacent to the Stadium for new permanent parking facilities.  These permanent facilities will include some 6,500 new grass parking spaces and will replace those parking areas currently leased from UTC.  Construction began in the spring of 2010 and will be completed prior to the start of the 2011 UConn football season.  The agency also began construction of road improvements at Rentschler Field that will improve access to the Stadium and complement further development on the balance of the site by UTC and its private development partner.   Such improvements are expected to be completed in the summer of 2011.

·         OPM reviewed and updated its policies and procedures regarding the safeguarding of personal/confidential information maintained by the agency. 

 

Other Information:

·         OPM is committed to complying with statutory requirements related to affirmative action and equal opportunity in employment and in the services OPM provides to the State of Connecticut. OPM’s Affirmative Action Plan for the period ending June 30, 2009 was approved by the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities at its January 13, 2010 meeting.  Regarding the Affirmative Action Plan for the period ending June 30, 2010, OPM, as well as other executive branch agencies, had limited opportunities to hire during the year due to the continuing impact of the national recession on the State of Connecticut’s economy.  Although there were limited opportunities to hire, 43% of OPM’s appointments met goals, achieving one long-term and two short-term hiring goals. In addition, OPM significantly exceeded Small/Minority Business Enterprise and Minority Business Enterprise goals. OPM provided sexual harassment and diversity training to new employees, and also coordinated and conducted civil rights training for recipients who receive federal funding from OPM, the Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security, and the Judicial Branch.  Such training is required by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office for Civil Rights.

·         In accordance with C.G.S. Sec. 4-61mm, OPM did not have any volunteers during fiscal year 2010.  Thirty-two students participated in OPM’s Internship program, representing seventeen different colleges and universities. 

For further information on OPM activities, visit the OPM website at http://www.ct.gov/opm.