Governor Bob Holden is releasing $127-Million he had withheld from public schools and from higher education institutions this year. Holden says he had to make the withholdings to keep the state budget in balance. But he says four factors have come into play allowing the release of those funds. One is the savings from cost-cutting in state agencies. Others are increased income from the tobacco settlement, fewer redemptions of tax credits, and the delay in settlement of a $50-Million lawsuit. Holden is still sitting on $40-Million he has withheld from state agencies.
