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Senate advances statewide budget adjustments, using stimulus and rainy-day funds to balance shortfall
Summary
Senators approved Senate Bill 2 (the omnibus budget), adopting technical amendments and reallocation notes to address a revenue shortfall. Sponsors said reductions include about 6% for public education and 9% for higher education; the bill uses federal stimulus dollars and rainy-day funds and passed the Senate.
The Utah Senate moved and passed the omnibus budget bill (SB2) on March 9 after the sponsor, Sen. Hilliard, presented a set of technical amendments and an overview of the fiscal picture.
Hilliard said the budget incorporates corrections (for example, changing an ESL program appropriation from ongoing to one-time) and explained the broader context: state revenues had fallen roughly 20%, and the enacted plan relies on about $400 million in federal stimulus funds and available rainy-day funds to balance the near-term shortfall. "We've dropped down roughly 20% in our revenues," he said, adding that the plan reduces public education funding by about 6% going into 2010 and higher education by about 9%.
The sponsor requested suspension of the rules to consider the amended bill for final passage; several senators thanked appropriations staff for negotiating difficult trade-offs. Hilliard framed the approach as prioritizing core services while using federal stimulus funding and rainy-day reserves to avoid deeper immediate cuts.
On roll call the Senate passed SB2 (as amended) by a recorded vote: 25 yea, 1 nay, 3 absent. The bill will be forwarded to the House for their action.
