More budget cuts now and even bigger ones to come will mean more cutbacks in state services, some of them right away. .
Governor Nixon has outlined his ideas for reducing spending in the next fiscal year by another $500-million. But before making that announcement, Nixon has authorized cutting another $126-million out of the budget for the remaining four months of this fiscal year.
State budget director Linda Luebbering says the latest round of cuts will be felt close to home by many Missourians. Area Agencies on Aging will take a $1 million hit. The second AMTRAK train between Kansas City and St Louis will go away if the state Transportation Department cannot find a new source of money to keep it rolling. She says some cuts are bieng made in community based services from the mental health department and the Department of Health and Senior Services. Some Department of Social Services contract services also are being cut.
Luebbering says the cuts cannot be avoided because state income is down almost 13 percent for this year compared to last year at this time.
Linda Luebbering talks to Bob Priddy 11:09 MP3
