Governor Chet Culver says furloughs for state workers would be one of the last things he looks at as he prepares for an additional 60-million dollars in state budget cuts. Culver says he is holding daily meetings to figure out which programs or services which can be trimmed after state revenue estimates were reduced for this fiscal year.
“Most economists will tell you that this is not the time when you want to lay people off, it’s not the time when you want them to see a significant reduction in their salaries — so that’s kind of a last resort, ” according to Culver. Culver announced 77-million dollars in budget cuts last week, including canceling the construction of a new state office building, freezing hiring and travel and limiting new purchases.
Culver says, “We’re taking very prudent steps to both balance the budget and limit the impact that it could have directly on families in Iowa of state employees and also we want to be cognizant of not gutting services either.” Culver expects to announce the plans for the latest cuts on Thursday or Friday. Culver says no single agency or department will be off limits in the new round of cuts.