Indiana’s plan to combat federal sequestration unclear

FROM IDS REPORTS

Federal sequestration and the subsequent mandated spending cuts to federal services began March 2.

“...The state will be able to manage the budget cuts with minimal impact to Hoosiers,” said Chris Atkins, director of the Office of Management and Budget.

Certain state agencies and programs, including the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program, have plans to manage the results. $4.1 million in food funds from the WIC program will be cut. However, due to the state’s low transportation costs and administrative cuts, the state will still give full benefits to all recipients.

In other cases, agencies like the Department of Labor are finding new ways to minimize cost and maximize efficiency through new technology.

However, cuts to federal unemployment benefits cannot be mitigated by the state, which will lead to such cuts for 33,000 Hoosiers  beginningMarch 31.

Other agencies are still trying to assess how to tackle the issue. Many state agencies, such as the State Department of Health, have not received guidance from the federal government .

A few agencies will see either no or minimal impact.

— Bridget Ameche