Agencies have been directed to submit a plan to identify savings in priority increments totaling 5 percent of the general revenue and general revenue-dedicated appropriations for the 2010-11 biennium by February 15, 2010. As the deadline approaches, many agencies are working on obtaining a consensus for the reductions.
The letter sent to state agencies was signed by Governor Rick Perry, Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst, and Speaker of the House Joe Straus. The reductions will not affect certain benefit programs as outlined in the letter. The requests are being made “due to the uncertainty of the state’s short-term future, as well as potentially substantial long-term costs associated with the passage of federal legislation,” being debated in Washington, D.C.
A link to the letter is on the Legislative Budget Board’s (LBB) website and below. The LBB has also posted links to agency operation budget requests for FY 2010 and agency legislative appropriations requests for FY 2010-11.
Expenditure Reductions letter for the 2010-11 Biennium
Agency Operating Budget Requests for FY2010
Agency Legislative Appropriations Requests for FY2010-11