Posted on 02/08/2003 6:08:40 AM PST by Theodore R.
Texas agencies eliminate costs to rid state of budget deficit ASSOCIATED PRESS
Gov. Rick Perry, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and House Speaker Tom Craddick asked state agencies to try to save $700 million by cutting the rest of their 2003 budgets by 7 percent. What agencies are doing or plan to do:
Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board says $26.3 million in cuts would mean taking money away from the Texas Grants scholarship program, and reducing funding to the Baylor College of Medicine, the Centers for Teacher Education and two chiropractic colleges.
Texas Lottery Commission said its $24.7 million in cuts included slashing money used to run Bingo games.
Credit Union Department, which inspects credit unions across the state, would lay off four employees, among other measures, to cut $109,000.
Texas Public Utility Commission laid off 33 employees, 14 percent of its staff, as part of its $826,000 in cuts. The PUC also is not filling job openings, stopped out-of-state travel and cut office supply purchases.
Texas Department of Agriculture will save $1.8 million by delaying the purchase of vehicles used by state inspectors and not filling job vacancies.
The Texas Department of Criminal Justice faces $172 million in cuts. Its options include slashing inmate rehabilitation and drug treatment programs.
The department says it will not stop hiring correctional officers.
Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn cut 8 percent of her agency's remaining $86 million by freezing hiring and delaying some purchases of items such as copy machines.
The Texas Education Agency has saved at least $25 million by freezing hiring, curtailing travel and delaying purchases. TEA has another $37 million to cut to reach 7 percent.
The Foundation School Fund, the main source of public school money, is exempt.
Perry cut his office's budget 14 percent for the remainder of the fiscal year by canceling magazine subscriptions and cutting other administrative costs.
Health and Human Services Commission targeted $333.8 million in state funding to cut by keeping vacant jobs open, delaying big purchases and other administrative reductions.
About $18.8 million in federal funding will be lost because of the cuts. The Children's Health Insurance Program and parts of Medicaid are exempt.
Texas Transportation Commission said its $1.8 million in cuts would not hurt the state's infrastructure but would mean reductions such as cuts to an automobile theft prevention program and grants and loans to general aviation airports and public transportation providers.
Texas A&M University System submitted $44 million in cuts, including chopping funding to research.
University of Texas System has announced hiring freezes and travel cutbacks to save $104.1 million.
Two-year community colleges say $64.3 million in cuts could mean canceled summer classes, professor and staff layoffs, higher tuition and local tax increases.
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