State Leaders Ask for Early Budget Cuts

Gov. Rick Perry, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and House Speaker Joe Straus are asking state agencies to submit plans for reducing their budgets.

It's been less than a year since the state budget was written, but the Republican leaders appear to be preparing for prolonged state revenue declines and a tough 2011 budget-writing session.

In a letter to agency heads, the three asked for a plan to reduce expenditures by 5 percent no later than Feb. 15. They also asked departments to minimize the impact on services.

The current budget, which started in September and extends through August 2011, allocated about $87 billion in state money to the agencies.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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