Following hundreds of millions in dollars of cuts to health, human services and education to close a billion dollar budget hole in Fiscal Year 2016 (FY 16), lawmakers are once again facing tough choices as they prepare to close another billion dollar deficit for Fiscal Year 2017 (FY 17), all while staring down deficits of approximately two billion dollars in each of the following two fiscal years.
The current budget proposals for FY 17 put forth by the Governor, the Republicans and the Democrats cut spending on crucial programs that support children and families – as defined by our Children’s Budget – by 5.0 percent ($301.3 million), 3.2 percent ($192.5 million) and 4.0 percent ($244.8 million), respectively.
