State senators on Thursday approved a new budget containing almost $850 million in cuts.

Gail DeMarco is the human face of Connecticut's budget crisis. She is one of at least 2,500 state workers losing their jobs. Bridgeport schools will lose nearly $1 million; Fairfield and Greenwich will lose almost $2 million.

Senate Democrats say the new budget is not just about cuts.

"We are restructuring our budget for the long team," says state Sen. Bob Duff (D-Norwalk). "As we've seen in a nonpartisan analysis, we have wiped away at least 40 percent of our deficit for next year."

Some promised car tax relief will also be going away. State Sen. Len Fasano (R-North Haven) says about 27 municipalities promised that car tax will not be receiving it.

Some hard decisions lie ahead, including reforming the pension system that is costing the state billions and figuring out how to keep the state's wealthiest citizens - many of whom live in Fairfield County - from taking their wealth and moving it out of state.

The House is expected to approve the budget on Friday.