MORE STATE CUTS DISCUSSED
Friday, May 22nd, 2009 -- 11:45 AM
Jackie Johnson, WRN, contributed to this report:State agencies, local governments and even education will have to make sacrifices to fill the ever-expanding state budget hole.
"Now in order to address this larger shortfall, in addition to cuts I've already proposed, we will cut another $1-billion from state government."
Governor Jim Doyle says the previously announced cuts plus the new ones total 2.7 billion dollars through the biennium. Doyle says the services Wisconsinites rely on will be effected.
"We will impose at least 5% across the board agency cuts which is significantly higher than the 1% cuts I proposed in my budget." Doyle stated.
Education has been a top priority for the governor, but that too, will be slashed.
"Because of this unprecedented economic crisis, we have agreed that we will have to cut school aid by about 2.5%."
Shared revenue to municipalities will also be cut by 2.5%.
Neillsville City Clerk Rex Roehl says a 2.5% cut in shared revenues would cost the city at least $22,000.
Shared Revenues are paid to municipalities in November.
Last year, Neillsville received almost $893,000 from the state.
Roehl says the cuts could be more than $22,000 if the Governor cuts all other forms of aid as well.
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