By AP/KWMU
St. Louis, MO – Missouri Governor Bob Holden signed the final two pieces of the budget Monday. Today is the first day of the new fiscal year. The two education budgets are now set, a move that ended a showdown between Holden and the Republican-controlled General Assembly over the budget cuts that were made and possible tax increases, which were rejected.
Illinois, meanwhile, is starting its new fiscal year without a budget in place. Governor Rod Blagojevich hasn't signed the budget yet, but is expected to in the next couple days.
Monday, Blagojevich met with the Secretary of State, Attorney General, Treasurer and Comptroller to ask them to cut spending in their offices by 7.5%.
The governor and Lt. Governor Pat Quinn have trimmed their own budgets by 15%, but they've had months to plan those cuts.
Most of the other constitutional officers expected their budgets to stay flat; that's what lawmakers approved in May.
The 7.5% percent cut equals about $28 million dollars for the Secretary of State's Office. A spokesman says it may not be possible to cut that much and still provide proper services.
Lt. Gov. Quinn says Blagojevich made it clear he will cut the budget himself if the other officials don't.