Oregon Public Broadcasting

State agencies, colleges and universities in Idaho are preparing for a second round of budget cuts. Correspondent Doug Nadvornick reports.

In September, Idaho Governor Butch Otter requested a one-percent spending cut for all agencies but public schools.

Now he’s warning them to hold back another one-and-a-half percent in case there is a need for future cuts.

North Idaho College Vice President John Martin says his school in Coeur d’Alene has cut training and travel budgets, postponed building projects and left vacated jobs unfilled.

John Martin: “At a time when we might be able to add more courses or something to meet the needs of a growing student body, we might not be able to do it because of the budget cuts.”

Local K-through-12 school districts in North Idaho are hoping they’ll dodge the budget cuts if the state dips into an education reserve fund to cover the current budgets.

But the cuts may lead to fewer services for Idahoans with subsidized health care.

Emily Simnitt of the Department of Health and Welfare says Medicaid makes up three-quarters of her agency’s budget, making it a logical place to cut.