Wyoming Governor Matt Mead says a dip in energy revenues will require the state to cut up to 200 million dollars from its existing budget.
The governor has instituted a hiring freeze and will be looking to every agency to return unspent money. Mead would like to avoid layoffs.
“I do not think that this is an area I will be looking at. I think we can get roughly 18 million dollars by not filling vacant positions and with a hiring freeze.”
Mead said citizens will accept some reduction in services, but added that the state will likely need to dip into savings.
“But I don’t think they’ll appreciate, we are gonna tighten our belts and at the same time continue to save at a robust rate. So I think there is going to be a balance.”
Mead said he expects that local government will get less money in the upcoming budget. But overall, he said that the state needs a strategic approach so that they don't hurt the economy while reducing the budget. Lawmakers will consider a new two-year budget in February.