Governor Rell announced in her "state of the state" address today that despite the ever-increasing need for government services, she is planning on presenting a budget next month that makes deep cuts affecting every agency, every program, and every service provided by state government.

"They will hurt," said Rell.

Rell's comments reflect the challenge that Connecticut, along with many other states, faces as elected leaders struggle to provide core services in health, security and public safety while trying to balance a budget with decreasing revenue.

State employee unions are gearing up to help meet that challenge and work with everyone they can to find good, lasting solutions to get past the economic crisis and build for a better system for the long haul.

"We share the same values as the public we serve, and will speak out for delivering high quality services and protecting the health, safety, and quality of life in all of Connecticut's communities," the State Employee Bargaining Agent Coalition (SEBAC) said in a statement following the Governor's speech.

Governor Rell and the State legislature are facing the difficult challenge of trying not to further devastate Connecticut's economy by cutting the vital services that all State public service workers provide.

"The governor was right to observe that difficult economic times are when public services are needed most -- and that's why we need to be extra careful to make sure we don't create bigger problems in the long run as we react to the crisis of the moment,"” said Catherine Osten, a correctional lieutenant working for the State's Department of Correction.

Susan McKinley, a social worker with the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services remarked, "I appreciate the governor being so concerned about the welfare of the people of our state and I hope that translates to taking care of all our state's citizens. But how do we take care of our citizens if government is cutting the services they depend on us to provide?"

Osten and McKinley are members of two of the unions in the State Employees Bargaining Agent Coalition (SEBAC), which serves to unite approximately 45,000 Connecticut State public service workers to address issues of common concern.