A spokesman for Gov. Sonny Perdue says the state will immediately cut the budgets of state agencies by six percent and withhold tax cuts for homeowners as part of a plan to deal with an expected 1.6 billion dollar shortfall this year. To meet the expected shortfall, $428 million in homeowner tax cuts will not go forward as planned this year. State employee pay raises have been deferred, except teacher pay raises. Governor Perdue had previously ordered state agencies to plan for a 3.5 percent cut, but now he's asking them to prepare for between a 6-10 percent cut.
