Oregon Public Broadcasting

Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski is poring over a list of possible budget cuts. They offer no easy solutions to bridge a half-billion dollar budget gap.

Kulongoski asked state agencies to submit plans for a 9 percent general fund cut to deal with the unexpected shortfall.

Among the options is the end of day care subsidies for more than 4,500 working parents. The Department of Human Services would also eliminate in-home care for more than 3,000 seniors and disabled adults.

Social service advocates say that would end up costing more in the long run.

Scott Bond is with the Oregon Association of Area Agencies on Aging and Disabilities.

Scott Bond: "Once we get at the point where there isn't an option left for people to stay at home, then what happens? And we don't have a policy answer for that. We don't have a plan for that."

The cuts also affect schools and public safety.

Kulongoski has already rejected a proposal to close three state prisons and release nearly 1,000 minimum-security inmates.

The governor is due to make a final decision by the end of the month.

State lawmakers have rejected a call by some Republicans to convene a special session in order to make targeted spending reductions. 

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Proposed agency cuts