Taft says budget can’t handle more cuts, lawmakers disagree

COLUMBUS - Gov. Bob Taft stepped up his campaign yesterday to stop additional budget cuts, but offered few specifics on how the cuts could affect state agencies.

Taft brought together directors of several state departments to make the point that budget cutting has gone as far as it can.

"We're cutting into bone and tissue and nerve here," Taft said.

Taft said essentially the same thing Monday to reporters. He repeated the theme yesterday at a more public event with agency directors at his side, ready to discuss the dangers of more cuts.

The event took place while the Republican-controlled House and Senate, which favor more cuts, were on a two-week holiday recess.

State leaders are struggling to balance the budget and pay for a court-ordered school-funding plan that will require an additional $1.4 billion in education spending.

Taft said his administration has agreed to cut an additional $600 million from the two-year, $45 billion budget proposal he submitted in January. Cuts in individual departments will range from one-half percent to 4 percent, with deeper cuts possible for individual programs.

That leaves a gap of $60 million to $80 million to meet lawmakers' requests for cuts, Taft said. The governor proposes that the money come from the state's $1 billion rainy day fund. Lawmakers oppose using the fund.

"This is as far as we responsibly believe we can go without undermining vital priorities that secure Ohio's future, without jeopardizing public health, public safety and the fundamental services that the state provides and, incidentally, is required to provide by the laws that the Legislature has enacted," Taft said.