BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter aims to balance Idaho’s budget by cutting another $40 million from this year’s spending, through trimming public education and delaying cash for a livestock research center near Twin Falls that was due to get $10 million.
The Republican, who delivered his State of the State speech Monday to open the 2010 Legislature, also wants to trim 400 state jobs, raise Idaho state parks fees and eliminate state funding to Idaho Public Television and six more agencies by 2014 in an overhaul of government priorities.
He won’t boost taxes, as minority Democrats had suggested.
Otter said, “It is not our place to impose an additional economic burden on the people of Idaho who already are struggling.”
For fiscal year 2011 starting in July, Otter proposed a budget of $2.46 billion.
