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by Jerry Cornfield Gov. Chris Gregoire’s budget team laid out details today on $330 million in cuts in state spending over the next few months, a move they predict could halve the predicted deficit in the next budget.
The figure represents $90 million in cuts announced in the summer plus specifics on $240 million in savings ordered by Gregoire last month.
What caught my eye was the governor’s press release included the figure of $3.2 billion as the amount of the projected shortfall. I think that may be the first time she’s used the number in one of her official press releases.
It comes from the staff of the Senate Ways and Means Committee. It represents the projected deficit on June 30, 2011 assuming current state programs continue to be funded as is and assumes some growth in costs for schools, prisons and health care