Oregon Public Broadcasting

State agencies across the Northwest are scouring their budgets, looking for ways to trim in lean economic times.  In Oregon, the Legislature is giving agency heads until this week to submit their plans to save money.  Salem correspondent Chris Lehman reports.

Before Oregon lawmakers tackle Governor Ted Kulongoski’s newly released budget proposal, they have to find ways to get the current budget into balance.

A recent revenue forecast shows the state is more than $140 million in the hole.  The Governor ordered a five percent across-the-board cut to make up for the shortfall.  

Legislative Fiscal Officer Ken Rocco says agencies are juggling several ways to save on cash without laying people off.

Ken Rocco:  “If an employee leaves a position for whatever reason then you just don’t fill that position really fast.  The other common thing is just to reduce your purchasing of materials for your business operations.”

Lawmakers will have the chance to fine-tune the cuts when they convene in January.  

In the meantime, state agencies are looking at even deeper cuts for the next  two-year budget cycle, which starts in July.