Utah remains in « decent » shape as the partial government shutdown enters its fourth week but won’t be able to keep federal programs going longterm, a state budget official said Monday.
SALT LAKE CITY — Utah remains in « decent » shape as the partial government shutdown enters its fourth week but won’t be able to keep federal programs going long term, a state budget official said Monday.
« We are not in position to keep all programs open indefinitely. We can keep some programs open, some services going. We would have to prioritize and determine how long. We are not in a position to just backfill all of the federal programs in the state, » Kristen Cox, executive director of the Governor’s Office of Management and Budget, told reporters.
The state plans to provide a weekly update of where it stands until the shutdown ends.
Cox said state officials are starting to make long-range plans in the event the shutdown stretches another six weeks or so. It could dip into the state’s $820 million Rainy Day Fund or incoming revenue past February if necessary, she said.
To date, Utah has spent $66,000 — of $80,000 allocated — to keep the state’s national parks open, accounting for about one-quarter of the cost over the past three weeks.
