Gov. Dannel P. Malloy vetoed a bill Monday that would have given the legislature the final say over whether the Board of Regents could close any of the state’s college campuses.
It’s his first veto of the 2015 legislative session. Malloy said it’s an “inappropriate” change in how the Board of Regents, which oversees the state’s four universities and 12 community colleges, operates.
In his veto message, Malloy said the problem, which was the closure of the Middlesex Community College’s Meriden campus, has been resolved by the Board of Regents. The legislation required the school to re-open the campus and it required legislative approval of any future campus closings.
The measure had been proposed because of funding cuts in Malloy’s budget. It would have saved the system $500,000. The school enrolls 647 students and is home to one of the state’s Advanced Manufacturing Programs.
Malloy said it should be up to the board where it needs “to consider cost-cutting measures.” And the legislature passed the bill before the existing budget process could play itself out.
The bill passed the House on April 14 by a 86-56 vote, and the Senate passed it unanimously April 8.
