This message was e-mailed yesterday from the Center Fr Rural Affairs:
LB 935, which contains the Appropriations Committee plan for balancing the state budget, had first round debate on March 16. Without much debate on the current budget status the bill was unanimously advanced to Select File. There was, however, plenty of talk about what's around the budget corner. Current projections show a $675 million deficit for the next two-year budget cycle (beginning July 2011) if revenue projections hold up, and up to $1 billion shortfall if they don't. This worst case scenario shows a budget shortfall approaching one-third of the state's annual $3.5 billion budget. If that scenario becomes reality be prepared for severe cuts across state government that impact rural people and communities, especially cuts to K-12 school aid.
