Posted on July 3, 2010.
Texas officials call for reductions statewide This week, the budget of the Legislative Commission of Texas, the committee that the Texas Legislature prepares the budget and policy recommendations for legislative appropriations for all agencies of state government, projected a deficit of $ 11 - 12 $ million budget for the 2012-2013 biennium.
The last time we faced a budget deficit during the 78th legislative session in 2003. As in 2003, the governor, lieutenant governor and president are once again asking agencies to cut their budgets by five percent to meet our budget deficit by reducing appropriations for the 2010-2011 fiscal year biennium.
In a letter to all state agencies and public institutions of higher education, our State leaders called for careful, effective reductions that minimize the impact on direct service and ask that each of these entities need to analyze the all administrative expenses and purchases.
The reduction of direct services should be an option of last resort to eliminate the possibility of reductions in benefits or eligibility levels for clients in the Medicaid program, the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and to foster care programs. In addition, they require budget cuts that will not affect the eligibility staffing, so that people in need can access these programs in a timely manner.
Programs exempt from this request to include the Foundation School Program, social security, teachers and employees pension system, contributions to fund higher education and debt service obligation of previously issued.
I am proud of Governor Perry, Lieutenant Governor Dewhurst and Chairman Straus to take proactive measures to reduce public spending when budget constraints are in sight.
Legislators should also exercise restraint next legislative session and to seek more ways to reduce spending on programs and foreign services. I am pleased to again propose legislation next session to implement a tax and spending limitation to better protect our state against the consequences of spending spree which led to California and other states on the brink of bankruptcy .
