Governor Howard Dean’s chief budget aide says she’s getting ready to unveil $39 million in budget cuts. That amount has to be cut out of the spending plan that went into effect a little more than a month ago.
Administration Secretary Kathy Hoyt says the proposal she’ll make to legislators Monday probably won’t be as bad as many had expected. She says the state has had some unexpected collections in the transportation fund and in the property transfer tax. She says those can be shifted for just one year to the general fund. But cuts still will be needed and Hoyt says the administration expects layoffs of fewer than 100 state employees.