JFAC approves $80 mil reduction for current year

“I hope people don’t think there’s a correlation between this motion and this being Friday the 13th,” said Rep. Darrell Bolz as he made a motion just now in JFAC to set a 2009 revenue figure that calls for an additional $80 million reduction. That puts the 2009 state budget at 12.2 percent less than fiscal year 2008. Sen. Joyce Broadsword, R-Sagle, seconded the motion. Said Bolz, “I think this is the right move for us - I think it’s the only move we have at this point in time.” Public schools again would be protected from holdbacks by dipping into the public school stabilization fund, as happened with earlier mid-year budget cuts. The motion passed unanimously.