PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Oregon state agencies have submitted their proposals for trimming $377 million in a second round of budget cuts, but state leaders haven’t decided exactly what to chop.
Some of the answers may await the next full legislative session, beginning this winter.
The budget proposals came in Thursday at Gov. Ted Kulongoski’s request. They follow a forecast last month that showed, once again, tax revenue isn’t meeting expectations.
About two-thirds of the current shortfall is expected to be covered by a recent infusion of federal aid. That will stave off cuts in school aid and human services.
Kulongoski and Democratic legislative leaders plan to use reserve funds to prevent cuts in some aid programs and to keep prisons open and state troopers on the road.
