With a slow economy cutting deeply into state tax collections, Governor Tim Kaine promised millions of dollars in cuts to a state budget just seven weeks after it took effect. Kaine offered no specifics but told legislative budget writers that no area of the budget will be safe by the time the cuts are made. The Democratic governor said that “all programs, including
those previously held harmless” will be up for review. He has
already ordered state agencies to curtail hiring and cut costs.
Weak employment and sales figures have cut into the revenue
forecasts on which the budget – which took effect July 1 – was
based.