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With the cutbacks in our state spending it looks like Alaska is no different than the rest of the nation when it comes to saving some dollars. And as we've seen other states like California and New York in trouble, now our state may have to make some changes.
The governor's 2010 budget was announced today with a lower price tag as she is looking to provide our state's services from within our means. "We are very mindful of the need to cut wasteful spending, we are always looking to cut spending," said Governor Sarah Palin.
Based on the varying price of oil, state leaders say lower budget spending is expected.
"I think that is a predictable decrease because last years was such a huge increase in the state budget," said U.S. Senator Elect Mark Begich.
"I think what's she's done is make a smaller capital budget bare bones."
"We can't have a rose colored scenario on what oil prices are going to be I think we have to be conservative in that and if exceeds that we need to be happy and glad," said Senator Charlie Huggins, who represents Wasilla.
Under the governor's proposed plan the state's operating and capital budget will be down an estimated 7 percent compared to this year's current budget. And according
"We are going to be prudent, we are going to live from within our means, we don't want Alaskans to assume government is the answer to all of the challenges," Palin said.
"The first step towards long term fiscal policy, fiscal planning in this state begins with budget discipline," said Representative Mike Hawker, who represents District 32 in Anchorage.
"We need to help ourselves, we have some money out there but at the same token, restrained spending is a good thing in the economic climate we are in at this time," said Huggins.
The next step for the governor's budget proposal is the legislature where the governor says all the strings to the purse are held. The 2009 session is set to begin January 20th. For a look at the entire state budget click on the link on our home page.
