Due to declining state revenues, Governor Matt Mead announced that he is cutting the state budget by $248 million.
The Wyoming Department of Health is being asked to cut its budget by $90 million for the next two years, which Mead said will lead to a loss of 677 private sector jobs. The University of Wyoming will cut $35 million, community colleges $20 million and the Department of Corrections $17 million. Mead told the Joint Appropriations Committee Tuesday that he had no choice.
“If the question is do I like the cuts? I don’t like the cuts, you won’t like them either. The more appropriate question is did we cut in the right places and the right amount.”
Mead admitted that he’s worried that they may have to cut more.
“There is a word of caution, these reductions are at the low end, the $240 million. And it may be necessary in the future, depending on the revenue, to make additional cuts.”
Senate Appropriations Chairman Tony Ross added that the cuts don’t take into account expected declines in education revenue. The budget cuts will begin to go into effect on July 1.