Kaine to announce budget cuts tomorrow, begins with his own budget today

Gov. Tim Kaine announced a short while ago that he'll have a news conference tomorrow morning at 11 to talk about the steps the state will have to take -- immediately -- to get the budget back in balance.

The most recent estimates are that the budget is going to be somewhere north of $2 billion out of whack.

To start whittling away at it, the governor announced cuts to his own office and residential budget that total $900,000 by the end of the budget year and $1.4 million on an annual basis -- a 10 percent reduction.

The cuts include:

Elimination of 8 positions through layoffs and turnover

Trimming almost 25% off the grocery bill for official events at the residence

Reductions in travel for state business by the Governor and First Lady

Reductions in staff cell phone costs, newspapers subscriptions and travel

Ending purchase of bottled water

Sending more invitations to functions by email instead of by U.S. mail

Cutting dry cleaning bills for linens used at official events at the residence

Comments

[Independent-Moderate]

Tell Governor "Timmy" that he can get some plastic table cloths to use for official functions "dirt cheap" at Dollar Tree and they only cost $1.00!!!!!!! LOL! I can just see the "Gov" putting on the Ritz!, The "Ritz" crackers that is being served at official receptions! Hey, I know, the receptions can be covered dish events where each attendee must bring a "dish" to gain admittance and I am not talking about their girlfriend either! LOL!

[Samantha]

Bravo! At least Kaine sees that cuts to the state budget should begin at home, so to speak (though I'm wondering about the dirty linen). Haven't heard either of the presidential candidates suggest such a move.