Bullock Looking for Additional Budget Cuts

The Bullock administration is asking state agencies to find an additional 5 percent in potential budget cuts.  KTVQ.com reports that Gov. Steve Bullock’s budget office asked agencies to submit proposed cuts by last Friday.  The recommendation was confirmed by sources in the administration late last night, as part of a budget-planning process allowed by law.

Spokeswoman Ronja Abel said the administration is ensuring it is ready to responsibly manage the budget as it was presented by the Legislature.  State law allows the governor to cut agency budgets up to 10 percent, if tax revenue falls below a certain point.  However, the governor’s office said the request is under the authority of a law that says the governor’s budget director can ask agencies with more than 20 full-time employees to submit plans to operate on 95 percent of their approved budget.