State agencies all facing deep cuts as budget talks begin

Around 3,000 state workers laid-off, including 42 highway patrol troopers, and entire programs, like the state's share of Meals on Wheels and drug courts, eliminated.

Those are the dreary — some may say cataclysmic — results of Utah state government having to cut hundreds of millions of dollars out of the rest of this year's budget and spending for fiscal 2009-10, which starts July 1.

The Utah Legislature's 104 part-time legislators heard Monday just how bad it could be if 15 percent is cut from the agency and education budgets as set a year ago. While the final numbers may not be as dramatic, there will be cuts, and legislative leaders are forcing appropriations subcommittees to consider the worst-case scenarios as they start their budget discussions.

No decisions were made Monday, but the subcommittees are scheduled to meet again Jan. 21 to finalize their recommendations. The 2009 Legislature will convene Jan. 26.

Ultimately, some one-time funds likely will be pumped into the current year's spending to blunt some of the cutbacks detailed Monday. And GOP leaders will wait until February revenue update predictions before adopting a 2009-10 budget.

"We are cutting good programs, because we have no alternative," said House budget Chairman Ron Bigelow, R-West Valley, on Monday morning. If there was good news, however, it was that "most state employees will keep their jobs, and we will provide needed services."

Senate President Michael Waddoups, R-Taylorsville, said the state can benefit from a hard look at spending through budget-cutting process. "I personally think it's less painful than I expected it to be," he said. "I think we'll see more efficiency in government ... I don't say waste, I say more efficiency."

Both Waddoups and House Speaker Dave Clark, R-Santa Clara, said they had no regrets about the hefty tax cuts given to Utahns in those flush years. Had the cuts not been given, the leaders said, even bigger budget cuts would have to be made now.

But Clark said the situation could have been eased had Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. called lawmakers into special session a second time to slice the current-year budget. Lawmakers already reduced spending some $270 million last September, but are now another $350 million short. That number will increase another $450 million for the new budget year that begins July 1.

Huntsman, who said another special session wasn't needed, proposed a $10.6 billion budget last month that would cut about 7 percent from state programs, making up the difference by dipping into the Rainy Day Fund, additional bonding and an increase in motor vehicle registration fees.