Gov. Patrick Orders Mid-fiscal Year Budget Cuts

Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick  on Tuesday, ordered spending cuts across state government as a result of slower than expected growth in state tax collections.  WAMC”s Paul Tuthill reports

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   Massachusetts is facing a $540 million dollar budget shortfall not quite half way through the fiscal year.  Governor Patrick is using his authority to cut executive branch spending by $225 million dollars, and tap the state’s rainy day fund for $200 million. The governor is asking the legislature to authorize cuts in the judiciary and constitutional officers as well as a 1% cut in local aid

   Patrick blamed uncertainty about a solution being reached in Washington to the so-called fiscal cliff  for  a slowdown in the state’s economy that has kept tax collections below the state budget estimates.