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Archive for Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Parkinson acknowledges next round will be painful

November 17, 2009, 9:23 a.m. Updated November 17, 2009, 4:37 p.m.

Gov. Mark Parkinson on budget cuts

Parkinson says easy cuts have already been made and further ones will impact government services. Enlarge video

Topeka — Gov. Mark Parkinson on Tuesday said that he would announce another round of budget cuts next week, and added that they would hurt.

“The point of government waste has been eliminated and we are now cutting into the bone of government services,” Parkinson said.

He declined to provide any details about where he would cut. Budget experts say he must slice approximately $260 million from the current fiscal year budget so that the state’s books are balanced by the time the 2010 legislative session starts in January.

But he commented on the irony of having to consider “draconian cuts” to public schools when he sought office to help schools.

Parkinson added, however, that the threat of a lawsuit from schools would not deter his budget ax.

Fifty-seven school districts across the state have joined a coalition that is considering whether to refile litigation against the state for reneging on court-ordered school funding increases.

This would make the fifth round of budget cuts this year — three during the legislative session and a reduction made by Parkinson in July.

As the state entered the recession, tax revenues plunged, causing the shortfalls.

SettingTheRecordStraight (anonymous) says…

"Health insurance reforms being debated in Congress ..."

What Rothschild means to say is, "A government takeover of health care being debated in Congress..."

November 17, 2009 at 11:30 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )