Wyoming Governor Considers Budget Cuts

Wyoming Gov. Matt Mead said he plans to review state agency proposals for how to trim their budgets by 8 percent in the fiscal year that begins in July of next year.

Falling natural gas prices recently prompted Mead to direct state government agencies to double the 4-percent cuts that the Wyoming Legislature had demanded. Mead says 8-percent cuts would save $75 million per year.

Mead says he hopes they will rise and the state won’t have to make such drastic budget cuts. However, he says planning in advance will help if the cuts are necessary.

Mead will consider the agencies’ proposals as he crafts his budget recommendation for the Legislature to consider early next year.