Changes would help eliminate $426 million chasm
The Senate has scheduled a debate for Tuesday on bill-making changes in the current budget to help eliminate the expected $426 million chasm between state revenues and required spending for fiscal 2003, which starts July 1.
Here are details:
Overall Budget
Cut the current budget about $54 million, or 1.2 percent, to $4.45 billion. Supporters would freeze spending at that level in fiscal 2003.
Education
Keep state aid to public schools at $3,870 per student.
Cut $8.5 million in higher education spending and save $6.4 million by revising university pension costs.
Social Services
Add almost $35 million to the current budget to cover unanticipated costs of medical services and other benefits for the needy, but cut spending for the departments on Aging and Social and Rehabilitation Services a total of $14.5 million.
Corrections
Cut 1 percent, or about $2.1 million, now from Department of Corrections and prisons.
Other
Provide an extra $500,000 to judicial branch now but cut most agencies’ budgets 2 percent.