Governor Tom Vilsack has revised his budget plan for the new state fiscal year, and he again wants to dip into the state’s economic emergency fund rather than make drastic cuts in state government. Vilsack wants to take 45-million dollars out of that account to ensure schools and the Department of Human Services don’t get whacked. Vilsack says D-H-S is really concerned with being able to provide services. Vilsack proposes a three percent cut in nearly every other state agency. He says to cut more than that would be damaging. He says they’ve reached a critical mass with over 200-million in cuts, and it’s going to be difficult for departments to provide essential services.The Departments of Human Services and Elder Affairs would not endure another round of cuts under Vilsack’s plan, which also maintains prison guard levels at the state prisons. Vilsack says more state workers will probably be laid off in the coming year. Legislators are reviewing Vilsack’s proposal, and say they’ll draft their own plan by the end of April.
