Hartford, Conn. — State legislators and Gov. Dannel P. Malloy said Monday they've asked staff to nail down the size of Connecticut's current budget deficit in order to produce a possible bipartisan mid-year plan to balance the state's books.

Opinions differ between Malloy's budget office and the General Assembly's nonpartisan Office of Fiscal Analysis, as well as between legislative Democrats and Republicans, about the size of the projected shortfall in the current $20 billion state budget, which took effect on July 1.

"You can't solve the problem unless you all have the same target," said House Minority Leader Themis Klarides, R-Derby.

Democratic and Republican lawmakers met privately with the Democratic governor for about an hour on Monday. They called the meeting cordial and professional, despite recent partisan crossfire, and said they expect to meet again early next week. In the meantime, budget staff members are expected to discuss what to include in the deficit projection.

Also, the latest state revenue figures are expected Nov. 10.

Malloy last week called for the bipartisan talks after the Office of Policy and Management said the current budget is approximately $120 million in deficit. That announcement came after Malloy had already made $103 million in cuts a few months into the new fiscal year. Lawmakers from both parties have balked at those reductions, which hit hospitals and human service programs. Senate President Martin Looney, D-New Haven, said it's an "open question" whether those unpopular cuts will remain.

Family members of people with disabilities waited outside the governor's office on Monday afternoon, urging legislators to stop the cuts, which they contend hurt the state's most vulnerable citizens. Groups have warned the reductions will force treatment and day programs to close.

"It's a lot of money on top of a system that's already been cut," said Heather Gates, CEO of Community Health Resources, a nonprofit system that provides mental health, substance abuse, supported housing and other programs to children and adults in central and eastern Connecticut.

"We need your voice in there today," Lauralyn Lewis, the mother of a 24-year-old son with Down syndrome, told the legislative leaders as they filed into the office.

"They have to find the political will collectively to stand up for this population," she told a reporter.

Following the meeting, lawmakers said no specific cuts were discussed, however House Speaker Brendan Sharkey, D-Hamden, said his idea for a 2.5 percent across-the-board reduction was mentioned. Also, no date has been set for a special legislative session to address the state's continuing budget woes.