There's no question that our serious state budget circumstance requires serious action. I want to keep you current with two budget-related initiatives presently advancing through the legislative process. Each bill has been approved at the committee level and now awaits further action.

The first of these bills cuts previous bond authorizations worth a staggering $412.7 million-about 22 percent of the total value of capital improvement projects planned. Make no mistake: these are important and necessary projects, but in the name of fiscal responsibility, we feel they must be postponed. Our proposal far exceeds the $252.9 million net value of bond "de-authorizations" proposed in early February by Governor Rell.

The proposal to cancel approximately 255 separate projects moves the state well below the bonding cap, a function of the state's overall debt compared to its annual budget. According to the State Treasurer's Office, the state is presently $242 million over that limit. Our plan, should it become law, would lead to lower cumulative debt and an improved evaluation of Connecticut by influential ratings agencies.

It should be noted the entire list of existing authorizations was painstakingly evaluated by members of a bonding subcommittee; those projects deemed to have the greatest potential in terms of job creation and stimulating economic activity maintained their status with the same, or at times slightly reduced, funding. The bill also consolidates bonding for the state's three largest cities, Bridgeport, Hartford, and New Haven, and reduces the amount available to them by 15 percent.

The second proposal would empower regional planning organizations to levy a 3 percent hotel occupancy tax on overnight guests to generate revenue specifically for municipalities and regional councils of government. While no public official ever embraces the idea of a new or increased tax, we think this plan would help local governments continue to provide vital services while reducing the property tax burden on local residents and businesses.

Specifics of the plan call for one-third of the additional revenue to be returned directly to the host municipality, while the remaining two-thirds would be used by Regional Planning Agencies and Councils of Government to underwrite projects with a broader scope.

In my view, this proposal has great merit not only because of the prospect for property tax relief, but because local governments have historically been limited in the allowable ways for them to meet their expenses; this bill is an important departure from those limitations and a move toward a greater role for regional entities to administer regional priorities.

My deadline for this article precludes my ability to report final action on legislation to bring the current year budget back into balance, but I can tell you the House of Representatives has approved the plan and the Senate is scheduled to follow suit. This deficit mitigation plan makes additional, significant cuts in current state spending, taking into account revenues that continue to lag behind projections.

The state Department of Revenue Services will soon have an updated report for legislators and administration officials based upon April 15 income tax returns and receipts. That information will help us continue to monitor the state's fiscal health even as we persist in our efforts to ensure efficient government as part of a complete and robust economic recovery.

Andrea Stillman represents the 20th Senatorial District, which includes New London, Waterford, East Lyme, Old Lyme, Old Saybrook, Salem, and Montville.