Lawmakers warning department heads of budget cuts

Lawmakers are telling state department heads to start preparing for budget cuts as Utah begins emerging from the coronavirus pandemic. 

Executive Director Ann Williamson of the state Department of Human Services says every state agency has been told to prepare new budgets. 

Each department will prepare budgets with three levels of cuts: two-percent, five-percent and ten-percent. 

Utah lawmakers are expected to meet in a special session next month to cut billions from the state budget due to expected declines in tax revenue related to the COVID-19 emergency.

State Senator Jerry Stevenson explains why such deep cuts to the state budget may be necessary.