The state employees union says personnel cuts shouldn’t be necessary to balance this year’s budget. It suggests using the state’s 1.2-billion dollars of reserves to protect jobs.
Governor Phil Bredesen says he understands the concern of people who may be doing more to cover for empty positions left by the hiring freeze and buyout program.
“We’re going to have to find ways that there is less work to do in some way or some other ways of dealing with it. We are not the federal government. We do not have a printing press. I cannot spend more money than I have. We will be dipping into the rainy day fund to get through these things. And I need everyone, including state employees, to work with me to figure out how we get the state safely through this period, and I believe we will.”
Governor Bredesen is working through a first round of budget hearings with his cabinet this week and making clear that personnel cuts will likely be part of this year’s balancing act.
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