Lawmakers slash budget, hope services not affected

Lawmakers slashed nearly a half billion dollars from the Tennessee budget and they’re now left holding their breath that state government can operate without a noticeable lapse in services. ‘These cuts won’t be worth it if people in McMinnville are forced to drive to Cookeville to get a driver’s license,’ said state Rep. Charles Curtiss. ‘That’s just an example because we don’t know what’s going to happen. But we don’t want to inconvenience anyone. We don’t want people in McMinnville having to drive to Cookeville to apply for food stamps.’ The General Assembly adjourned for the year after a marathon session Wednesday. When the day finally ended around 11 p.m., legislators had passed a $27 billion budget that cuts education, health care spending, and 2,000 state jobs. Gov. Phil Bredesen, who laid out the budget package, is expected to sign it. In all, legislators cut $468 million from the budget Bredesen proposed in January, which was already $170 million lower than the current budget. ‘I think we’ll have an even worse situation next year,’ said state Rep. Judd Matheny. ‘Because the monthly revenue figures we’re receiving are not holding steady. They’re dropping.’ As for the job reductions, lawmakers approved offering buyouts to state workers to cut about 2,000 jobs. ‘Obviously I was disappointed at the cuts,’ said state Sen. Steve Roller. ‘But there will be no forced layoffs. It will be all voluntary. If we don’t get enough workers to accept the buyouts this time, we’ll come back again and look at it in January.’ Higher education spending was reduced by $55 million. Those cuts will be split among capital improvement projects and operating money. ‘It makes it tough on colleges because we’re increasing scholarships and therefore increasing students,’ said Matheny. ‘And at the same time we’re decreasing money.’ The pre-K program, which is so dear to Bredesen, will receive no additional classrooms, and other K-12 funding remains at a standstill. Much like pre-K, no other state programs were added, expanded or received additional dollars. Curtiss said this is a smart way to conserve. ‘You’re not going to miss something you don’t have,’ said Curtiss. ‘A lot of what was cut was new programs. And we avoided dipping into our rainy day fund for now. We don’t know how long this economic downturn is going to last.’