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(WTNH) – Gov. Jodi Rell said she will call the general assembly into special session on December 15th to work on plans to close a projected budget deficit of $466.5 million.

“Failure to swiftly address this budget shortfall will only lead us into a deeper hole - one that we cannot afford to close by borrowing more or raising taxes again,” the governor said in a news release Wednesday.

“These are painful cuts, to be sure, but the Legislature must make them now to ensure that Connecticut returns to solid financial footing,” she said.

The call for a special session comes a day after the governor released her plans for a deficit mitigation package. Included in her plan is a three percent cut in aid to cities and towns. The plan also includes $70 million in cut she can make under her authority as governor, and another $116 million in cuts which the general assembly will need to approve.

Earlier in the day, Stamford Mayor Dan Malloy, who’s considering a run for governor, said there are some programs the governor should not cut.

“Connecticut’s social services safety net has been under continuous assault in recent years,” Malloy said. “These programs are relied upon by thousands of the State’s most needy, and they are already underfunded.”

Malloy also criticized Gov. Rell’s proposal to cut funding for the Citizens Election Fund.

“This is a program that the Governor signed into law and claims to support, yet $18 million have already been cut in the last budget, and this $12 million would pull the program well below the $48 million that its director says is needed for 2010,” Malloy said.

When they go into special session, Gov. Rell wants lawmakers to fix parts of the state’s campaign finance law which were struck down by a federal judge.