Friday, April 23, 2010

Indiana State Agencies Ordered to Keep Chopping


Link to April 23 Indianapolis Star article, "State sharpens budget ax again.  Agencies are asked to continue 10% cuts, trim an additional 5%".

Excerpt:  Chris Ruhl, the state budget director, sent a memo to all state agencies saying revenue for fiscal year 2011 will be less than what the state took in for fiscal year 2006. In the first nine months of the current fiscal year, he said, state revenues are $867 million less than expected and have declined 9.4 percent from last year.

"As a result of these dramatic revenue declines, we are currently forecasting that all reserves will be consumed before the end of the FY 10-11 biennium," Ruhl said in the memo. "We have two options: 1) continue to restrain spending or 2) raise taxes on Hoosiers at a time when they can least afford government impounding more of their income. The choice is clear."

The budget passed in 2009 was 10 percent smaller than the state's previous spending plan. Total cuts in fiscal year 2009 were about $800 million, Ruhl said, adding that the state "is on pace for about the same figure this year
."

From the June 2, 2009, minutes of the Indiana Library Federation (ILF) legislative committee meeting.

ISL Report/Announcements: Jim Corridan noted that the Indiana State Library’s budget would be cut by 14.5%. However, the 14.5% is misleading; the Indiana State Library previously lost 10%, so only 4.5% more will be cut. The cut will not have a significant impact on the Indiana State Library. The cut will make it harder to establish new programs, however, the current programs will continue to run. Jim also noted that the Connectivity Fund and INSPIRE Funds either need to stay the same, or increase. Also, the Indiana State Library received an additional $200,000 in Federal Funds.

Retiring Guy suspects that the "not have a significant impact" observation will not apply to this next round of budget cuts.

Indiana State Library 2009-11 "as-passed" budget.
[Columns are funding source, FY 2009-10, FY 2010-11]

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