Delaware budget down to the wire
Friday, June 26th, 2009
By: Bill Cook
bcook@whyy.org
It's a monumental task and time is running out. Delaware lawmakers have just two legislative days to balance the budget and close a historic $800 million deficit. But what if they don't pass a budget in time? What happens in a worst case scenario is still a bit unclear.
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From now through Tuesday, state lawmakers and the governor's administration have one main focus… balancing the budget on time.
But what if they fail? Will government shut down? Will police and other state employees get paid? It's a scenario the administration – at the very least – must think about.
Joe Rogalsky is the communications director for Gov. Jack Markell. He says the governor and his cabinet have begun working on contingency plans just in case there's a budget impasse.
Rogalsky: If there is a failure… the governor is working on plans to have only the most essential government services in place.
A complete list of those "essential" government services has not been put together, but one of them will surely be the state police.
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After a day off Friday, June 26, full legislative sessions are scheduled for Monday and Tuesday, June 29 and 30.