Sen. John Kibbie, D-Emmettsburg, says it's unclear if a cut in this year's budget is needed. Republican lawmakers say state tax revenues have been flat so far this year, meaning the state is taking in less money than predicted. The result is the state budget won't balance without cuts. They say if cuts are not made now, the cuts in next year's fiscal budget will need to be even larger. The proposed cuts hit nearly every state department, though they do not affect school aid for K-12 education.
Republicans say the cuts amount to a tiny percentage of the state budget.
Democrats counter, with only a few months before the fiscal year ends on June 30, even that small percentage becomes a serious problem for many state agencies. Those cuts, if approved, probably would delay demonstration projects on best-management practices related to water quality. Bids had been scheduled to be signed on those projects a few weeks ago but were delayed by weather problems. Such a cut definitely would result in immediate staff cuts, she says.