Connecticut’s budget deficit appears to be a moving target.

On Tuesday, the legislature’s nonpartisan fiscal office issued the latest deficit projection: $495.5 million.

That’s higher than the estimates issued a couple weeks ago by Democratic state Comptroller Nancy Wyman — $390 million — and Republican Gov. John G. Rowland’s budget office — $330 million.

Legislative leaders and Rowland’s staff were scheduled to meet behind closed doors Wednesday to discuss ways to mop up Connecticut’s red ink. Speaker of the House Moira K. Lyons, D-Stamford, said all sides will first have to agree on the size of the problem.

“That number clearly is going to determine what steps we’re going to take,” Lyons said.

The $495.5 million deficit projection released by the Office of Fiscal Analysis accounts for a decline in state revenues as well as $111.4 million worth of overspending in some accounts and $94 million in unspecified savings Rowland is supposed to find in the budget.

–Associated Press