Bredesen: Health & Kid’s Services Not Immune From Cuts

    NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Gov. Phil Bredesen is putting the heads of state departments on notice that none will be spared from deep budget cuts.
    Bredesen on Wednesday quickly dismissed as unrealistic a $27 million request from the Department of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities. The money would mostly be aimed at establishing safety net services for behavioral health services.
    Bredesen told Commissioner Virginia Trotter Betts that she needs to instead be focusing on ways to cut $20 million from her existing state budget, even if it means losing matching federal funds.
    The governor also heard from the Department of Children’s Services. Bredesen said that department’s budget is the most difficult to cut because its services are targeted at helping vulnerable children.
   
    (Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)