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.
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SettingTheRecordStraight (anonymous) says…
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What Rothschild means to say is, "A government takeover of health care being debated in Congress..."