December 25, 2008 01:24 AM UTC

State short $77-600 Million or maybe just $1 Billion

• 6 Comments
• by: Libertad

Wow that is a gaping variation in estimates for such a small budget!

While Pols sit around rumoring, debating, pumping and cutting at various purported US Senate appointees, there has been more relevant developments at OSPD and Legislative Council. Shortfalls could reach $1 Billion.

Gov. Bill Ritter is asking for spending cuts so deep the idea of ending state funding for colleges and universities is back on the table.

Talk of layoffs and eliminating programs considered less essential to public health and safety also followed Ritter’s call Tuesday for department heads to trim budgets by 10 percent to cope with plunging state revenues.

Ritter’s request, which came four days after the nonpartisan Legislative Council forecast budget shortfalls that could total $1 billion this year and next, seeks $790 million of possible cuts by Jan. 9.

That amount might be more than Ritter needs because he’s already asked for ideas to cut several hundred million dollars this year, but it will give him options in a worst-case scenario.

Wow, didn’t we add over 3,000 state employees in the last 2 years?

What other massive programs have been brought back from the dead?

What should be brought in to account by the Democrats (leadership)?

How will leadership reconcile recent and new unfunded mandates for local governments?

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