Legislature considers budget cuts in special session

The Legislature’s Appropriations Committee continued wading through Gov. Jim Pillen’s proposed budget cuts Tuesday, as the special session on property taxes continues.

Appropriations Committee members spent Tuesday going over cuts Pillen has proposed to help pay for his plan to lower property taxes. For example, they considered a $25 million cut in administrative costs for programs in the Department of Health and Human Services, including children and family services, Medicaid and developmental disability services.

Sen. Tony Vargas objected that the Pillen administration hasn’t disclosed details about the cut.

“We have a $25 million proposed cut," Vargas said. "We have nothing in writing that tells us what that $25 million in base operations is coming from in HHS. We don't know what loss of services are happening. We don't know who it's going to impact or affect."

Committee Chair Sen. Rob Clements supported the cut, citing reassurances from officials including Health and Human Services CEO Steve Corsi.

“The governor's office has analyzed the agencies, and CEO Corsi testified that he's comfortable with what the governor's proposal is, and he has found savings, efficiencies,” Clements said.

The committee voted 5-4 to include the cut in the bill it will send to the full Legislature, which resumes meeting Wednesday.

More from the Legislature's special session:

Scaled-down version of property tax cuts proposed

Marijuana, municipal aid proposed for property tax relief

Education Committee considers school funding changes

Online sports betting touted as way to reduce property taxes

Committees hear support, opposition to Pillen’s budget and tax proposals