Culver will unveil budget cuts today
By Fred Love, Journal Des Moines Bureau | Posted: Tuesday, December 09, 2008
DES MOINES -- Iowa Gov. Chet Culver said on Monday he'll announce details regarding state budget cuts during an address to the Iowa Taxpayers Association today.
Culver was tightlipped on which state agencies could see trimmed budgets when speaking to reporters following a speech. "We have made real progress the last few weeks on trying to find ways to significantly reduce costs between now and the end of the fiscal year," he said.
Culver, a Democrat, said he's met with department heads and gone through a thorough analysis to help him make his decision on spending reductions. Culver asked state department in November to submit ideas for cutting back on state spending with a goal of trimming up to $40 million to help the state deal with economic pressure and the costs associated with recovering from floods and storms earlier this year.
Officials in Culver's office have said the cuts likely won't mean a reduction in services or a loss of jobs for current state employees.
House Minority Leader Kraig Paulsen, R-Hiawatha, said state spending has increased too much in recent years. "I appreciate the fact that he's asking the departments to find places to save money," Paulsen said. "The reality of it is we probably shouldn't have spent the money to begin with."
Senate Minority Leader Paul McKinley, R-Chariton, said it's difficult to gauge which areas of the state budget may be cut during the upcoming legislative session until lawmakers have a better grasp of the fiscal conditions facing the state.
"As far as the specific cuts that I would make, I think it would be premature to say where those cuts might come because, quite frankly, we don't know how big of a hole we've dug for ourselves," McKinley said during an Iowapolitics.com legislative forum on Monday.
The state's Revenue Estimating Conference in October predicted that Iowa will bring in $7 million more revenue next year, while built-in spending increases next year are expected to be nearly $553 million. The conference will reassess the state's revenue outlook on Friday and determine an estimate that will guide Culver and the Legislature during the legislative session beginning in January.
House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, D-Des Moines, said it's not uncommon for the Legislature to begin a session with more commitments than revenue estimates would allow, although he said this session's budget may pose a greater challenge than in previous years.
Rep. Christopher Rants, R-Sioux City, said Culver has put off acting on cutting state spending, and the timing of the budget announcement is no coincidence.
"They're picking a day they know the news is going to be focused on something else," Rants said. He said trimming the state budget a few months ago could have staved off more severe cuts down the road.
Fred Love can be reached at (515) 422-9048 or fred.love@lee.net.
Culver was tightlipped on which state agencies could see trimmed budgets when speaking to reporters following a speech. "We have made real progress the last few weeks on trying to find ways to significantly reduce costs between now and the end of the fiscal year," he said.
Culver, a Democrat, said he's met with department heads and gone through a thorough analysis to help him make his decision on spending reductions. Culver asked state department in November to submit ideas for cutting back on state spending with a goal of trimming up to $40 million to help the state deal with economic pressure and the costs associated with recovering from floods and storms earlier this year.
Officials in Culver's office have said the cuts likely won't mean a reduction in services or a loss of jobs for current state employees.
House Minority Leader Kraig Paulsen, R-Hiawatha, said state spending has increased too much in recent years. "I appreciate the fact that he's asking the departments to find places to save money," Paulsen said. "The reality of it is we probably shouldn't have spent the money to begin with."
Senate Minority Leader Paul McKinley, R-Chariton, said it's difficult to gauge which areas of the state budget may be cut during the upcoming legislative session until lawmakers have a better grasp of the fiscal conditions facing the state.
"As far as the specific cuts that I would make, I think it would be premature to say where those cuts might come because, quite frankly, we don't know how big of a hole we've dug for ourselves," McKinley said during an Iowapolitics.com legislative forum on Monday.
The state's Revenue Estimating Conference in October predicted that Iowa will bring in $7 million more revenue next year, while built-in spending increases next year are expected to be nearly $553 million. The conference will reassess the state's revenue outlook on Friday and determine an estimate that will guide Culver and the Legislature during the legislative session beginning in January.
House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, D-Des Moines, said it's not uncommon for the Legislature to begin a session with more commitments than revenue estimates would allow, although he said this session's budget may pose a greater challenge than in previous years.
Rep. Christopher Rants, R-Sioux City, said Culver has put off acting on cutting state spending, and the timing of the budget announcement is no coincidence.
"They're picking a day they know the news is going to be focused on something else," Rants said. He said trimming the state budget a few months ago could have staved off more severe cuts down the road.
Fred Love can be reached at (515) 422-9048 or fred.love@lee.net.
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