Gov. M. Jodi Rell called upon state employees to curb the use of cells phones as a means of closing the massive budget shortfall this year. Rell announced Friday that she has ordered executive agencies to cancel “unnecessary” cell phone contracts and freeze new purchases except in emergencies. Though there are over 10,000 wireless devices used by state government officials; Rell said many of those accounts are redundant and ordered them deactivated. In the first six months of this fiscal year, the state has spent nearly $2.3 million on cell phones, on pace to reach last year’s record total of $4.5 million.

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