$400M in state budget cuts may be around corner
State lawmakers are in advanced discussions to make $400 million in budget cuts next week as a preliminary fix to the state鈥檚 $1.4 billion shortfall, top budget negotiators said Friday.
Republican Rep. Gary Alexander said he is reviewing a proposal from his Democratic counterparts, seeking revisions and additions to reach as much as $500 million in savings. Lawmakers said they are optimistic the measure will pass next week because it reserves more contentious issues for discussion later.
鈥淭here鈥檚 enough low-hanging fruit that we can make significant inroads,鈥 he said.
House members are scheduled to take up the legislation Monday afternoon, and Democratic Rep. Ross Hunter said he expects negotiators to work through the weekend finalizing the proposal. Leaders declined to discuss specific details but said it was focused more on broader administrative reductions for state agencies than specific program eliminations.