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Eye On Boise archive for Sept. 25, 2009

FRIDAY, SEPT. 25, 2009

Members of the press await Gov. Butch Otter's announcement Friday of new state budget cuts. (Betsy Russell / The Spokesman-Review)

To listen or watch... 

There was intense interest in Gov. Butch Otter's announcement today on new state budget cuts; this shot shows the line-up of TV cameras at the press conference. Not visible are many additional reporters and photographers (including me) who were ranged around the sides of the…

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ITD also making cuts

The Idaho Transportation Department has announced an $8.6 million holdback on its own department budget - a 3.4 percent cut - even though it wasn't required to participate in Gov. Butch Otter's holdbacks because the agency receives no state general funds. ITD Acting Director Scott…

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Dems: 'A question of priorities' 

Idaho's legislative minority party says it's unhappy with the governor's holdback plan, but the Democrats, like Otter, also say they oppose raising taxes to cope with the state's budget shortfall. Senate Minority Leader Kate Kelly, D-Boise, said the Dems would prefer to tap more of…

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Higher ed to take cuts 

Colleges and universities will take a 6 percent hit under Gov. Butch Otter's new budget holdbacks, as will community colleges - even as they see enrollment swell due to the down economy. Asked how higher ed will handle that, after already taking big budget cuts,…

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Gov. Butch Otter announces new budget cuts (Betsy Russell / The Spokesman-Review)

Leaving most rainy-day funds be...

Gov. Butch Otter plan for coping with the $151 million budget shortfall this year calls for covering 65 percent through holdbacks - new, mid-year budget cuts - and working with agency heads to find additional savings to cover the final $50 million. "If we can't,…

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Holdbacks could mean state layoffs

Layoffs could be part of the new 4 percent holdbacks Gov. Butch Otter ordered today, but Otter said he'll leave that up to agency directors. "I'm going to let that director, that cabinet member, call those shots," he said. "They are the managers. I trust…

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Otter orders 4 percent holdbacks 

Gov. Butch Otter has announced plans for a "tiered" holdback, cutting the state's budget back mid-year by 4 percent, but with varying amounts for each agency. "The message I want to leave with you today is that we've been here before and we can do…

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Eye On Boise

News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.