The News Tribune on July 14: Ricketts tells Nebraska agencies to brace for lean times
LINCOLN, NEB. – Gov. Pete Ricketts has ordered Nebraska agencies to tighten their spending after the state collected $95 million less than expected in the last fiscal year, officials announced Thursday.
Ricketts said he has directed department leaders to look carefully at whether new hires are necessary, limit travel when possible and delay hardware and software purchases.
The state will also reduce the allotment of money it distributes to state agencies by 1 percent each quarter, unless an agency can show the money is needed. Instead of getting 25 percent of their total annual budget every three months, agencies will only receive 24 percent.
Ricketts said it wasn’t necessary to call a special legislative session, which would let lawmakers adjust the state budget. The state had been projected to collect about $4.4 billion during the fiscal year that ended June 30, but the total was closer to $4.3 billion.