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State may see 'catastrophic' funding cuts in 2011


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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - State-funded services are already stretched thin in such areas as mental health and children's programs, so a $1.5 billion budget shortfall will force incoming Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam to make some very difficult choices.

John Stewart, former board chairman for Tennesseans For Fair Taxation, believes the long-neglected state infrastructure, which includes everything from education to environmental protection, is at serious risk.

"It's looking line-by-line in terms of the state budget and analyzing the impact of the cuts that have already been made, and the probable impact of further cuts that are being discussed."

Stewart predicts some of the children's services that have already seen deep cuts, as well as aid programs for Tennesseans with mental health challenges, could be devastated.

"It's not as though there's some private sector provider out there who steps in. If the government does not have funds to support these activities, they just go away."

In an effort to forge policy recommendations, a nonpartisan state budget forecast and policy forum will be held next week. "Creating Solutions" is Nov. 16 from 9:00 a.m. to noon at the Boys & Girls Club Auditorium, 220 Carrick St., Knoxville. The event is free of charge but advance registration is required, at http://ettcycreatingsolutionseasttn.eventbrite.com. More about the event is online at http://tn.gov/tccy/pres-CS-Knox-10.pdf.
 
 
 
Tagged under  Bill Haslam, Budget, State, TNNS


Member Opinions:
By: confused on 11/12/10
More State cuts?! great..you already can't get a person on the phone for help in any department that one tries..so cut more. That will be more out of work and more with no $ to spend, so more money lost cause no one will be able to purchase things..why not ask ole Obama for a handout!!??

By: DMW on 11/15/10
No one wants to make cuts in mental health and children's programs but it's time to live within our means.

By: SocEtTuem on 11/15/10
You can have it one of two ways, either more and higher taxes (which nobody wants) or spending cuts which everybody wants so long as those cuts do not affect them or their pet programs.

We have been living beyond our means for far too long. Moreover, whether it is poltically correct or not I agree with Thomas Jefferson who said back in his day "I think we have more machinery of government than is necessary, too many parasites living on the labor of the industrious." He should see it now!

By: publius on 11/16/10
Did you ever notice that conservatives always want to cut funding on the weak and in need The new budget committee suggests cuts in education, veterans health care, Medicare, Medicaid. raising the retirement age,
how about we eliminate the tax breaks for the oil industry or maybe Ross Perots flat tax rate for everybody. he figure 15% would pay off all of our debt. That would be fair don't you think.I would pay the same percentage as the wealthy. My Brother in law (rich) thinks that would be terrible, He paid 9% last year I paid 23%, my point is There are other ways than to attack the weak among us. Maybe we should stop being the worlds police force. they do not seem to appreciate the sacrifice of our treasure. How about we fine people who hire illegals, or maybe tax corporations that ship jobs overseas. My thought is that there are other ways for Christians to behave.

By: DMW on 11/17/10
publius - “conservatives always want to cut funding on the weak and in need”
Where do liberals suggest we get the money to continue spending at the current rate? Cuts have to be made somewhere. There are many conservatives that would be happy with a flat tax. Is it possible your brother in law gave more to charity to help the “weak and in need” and by so reducing his tax burden?


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