NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Gov. Bill Haslam's state budget hearings continue in Nashville with presentations by officials for transportation, children's services and other departments.
As the hearings opened Tuesday, Education Commissioner Kevin Huffman said he wasn't asking for funds to expand pre-kindergarten classes. However, Huffman said expanding enrollment in schools and inflation will require an additional $2 million in routine cost increases.
According to The Commercial Appeal (http://bit.ly/XjgSlz ), Haslam told his cabinet to develop plans for a 5 percent cut in spending as a fallback. The governor said costs for Medicaid, the Basic Education Program and health care costs for government employees go up each year.
Also Tuesday, Safety Commissioner Bill Gibbons said his priorities are reducing traffic deaths and cutting wait times at drivers service centers.