The Joint Budget Committee today began talking about the fiscal year beginning July 1 and it wasn’t a happy occasion.

Richard Weiss, the state’s chief financial officer, said the budget included no raise for state employees next year. A 2.3 percent increase had been projected in 2009.

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The prediction now is for a 4 percent increase in state revenue, after two years of declines, but that would only regain the losses and the budget will be flat. Any revenue in excess of the zero-based budget will go to a “balanced budget revenue fund,” or a rainy day reserve should things turn sour again.

At the University of Arkansas, the situation is described as dire. It must make $2.6 million in cuts. (See jump.) There were no reserve funds put aside for UA or other colleges, who are taking cuts this year rather than expected increases. And tuition was held mostly steady in expectation of that increased funding. Some lottery money will be coming, but whether it offsets loss of state support is a question that obviously arises.

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UPDATE: Voice in the wilderness category. Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families says the governor should take a “balanced” approach to the state’s shortfall and its impact, particularly, on poorer residents. That is, he should consider new revenues (taxes), too. In this election year? Not likely.

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