Governor John Baldacci yesterday outlined more than $11 million in state budget cuts in preparation for a meeting Thursday with the state Legislature.
Baldacci’s plan would cut 10 jobs and make the biggest cost reductions in the Department of Financial and Administrative Services and the Department of Health and Human Services.
Meanwhile, to cut the required $162,000 from his office’s budget, Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap is proposing to eliminate state primaries, which cost about $300,000 per year to administer, the Kennebec Journal reported. Instead, political parties could hold caucuses to pick candidates, Dunlap told the paper.
The Legislature’s Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee will begin considering Baldacci’s plan on Thursday.