Stamford – In the first of a series of open-ended town hall meetings, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy stood his ground Thursday on his intention to make deep spending cuts. But the governor did so in a tone more plaintive than combative, suggesting in his sixth year in office he was humbled by fiscal challenges.

"I'm an imperfect governor. I'm an imperfect messenger. I'm imperfect in many different ways," Malloy said after an evening of complaints about things he is cutting. "But I'm working really hard to find the right balance. I don't believe the right balance is raising taxes at this time."

The audience sent him home with applause, an uncertain prospect at the start of an evening that would produce nearly unbroken complaints about what his budget would cost Connecticut in terms of services and quality of life.

Everyone was polite, if pointed. A non-profit agency, Kids in Crisis, pushed back hard at the steep loss of revenue it faces with complaints from a foster parent who called the agency invaluable and a little girl who asked in a high-pitched voice if he wanted to do "the right thing."

"You're only hurting the kids," said Sami Goldman, reading a letter she had sent Malloy. "These kids are scared and lonely."

Most began their question with a compliment, but they quickly got to the ask: Could Malloy possibly find money for just one thing? And, aside from Kids in Crisis, nearly everyone's one thing was different.

He heard people who came to see if a few more dollars might be added for libraries, for the University of Connecticut, for community health services, for at-risk children, for affordable housing. One speaker also challenged him on high taxes, but she was a minority of one.

Twice, Malloy held up his hands, stepped forward and said he understood their pleas, but they must understand his problem: The economy cannot support all the services state government now provides. Twice, he asked the same question, generating a mix of laughter, nervous titters and blank stares.

"Everyone who wants their taxes raised, raise your hand," Malloy said, glancing around an audience of about 250 people at the University of Connecticut branch campus. He thought he detected one, maybe two people.

Malloy, a Democrat in the second year of what promises to be a second term of fiscal challenges, said he does not believe Connecticut is able or willing to pay higher taxes, not after major increases in the first year of both terms. Left unsaid was the national beating Connecticut took when General Electric chose to leave the state for Boston, another high-cost locale.

"If we want to compete with northern New Jersey and Westchester County to get New York jobs, then we have to compete with them," Malloy said after one woman challenged him to raise taxes on the rich, rather than cut services that benefit the needy. "Part of that competition is on what individual taxes are or what the corporate tax rate is."

Malloy, who describes his own personality as prickly, was composed throughout the evening. When he pushed back, he kept his voice even. He stood to side of the podium, listening to questions that spun into mini-speeches. Mostly, he stood deep in a U-shaped arrangement of chairs, close to his interrogators.

"I just asked a room full of reasonable people, 'Who is prepared, you know, to pay more money?' I remember I got one hand, right?" he said, pausing as a few in the crowd laughed. "What I think the issue is, is finding the right balance."

The governor is going back out on the road at a time when the last Quinnipiac poll of Connecticut residents found the state with a dim view of his job as governor, especially on matters of the economy and budget. His first stop was Stamford, the city he governed as mayor for 14 years, stepping down in 2009, knowing he was running for governor in 2010.

Malloy promised that his difficult budget proposal was not the result of indifference. He said he's worked hard, looking for options – and reminded them he's already raised taxes, even if critics believe the rich can pay more.

"I mean I live it every day. I read more reports. I go over more information. I review more economic data," he said, then ticked off a list of indicators of a weak economy. "These aren't good signs, and we are going to have to make some level of sacrifice together. And unfortunately, it falls on me to put out a budget and also falls on the legislature to pass a budget. I'm honestly doing the best I can."

Mark Pazniokas is a reporter for The Connecticut Mirror (www.ctmirror.org). Copyright 2015 © The Connecticut Mirror.

mpazniokas@ctmirror.org