Sen. J.D. Alexander just opened the Senate Ways and Means Committee and announced that the state shortfall is likely to be in the $5 to $6 billion range next year, including $1.9 billion in recurring revenue. "No single solution will solve that,'' he said. "There is little doubt that further budget reductions will be necessary."

Alexander told the Herald/Times that the initial analysis and discussion with Washington is that the stimulus package "would not allow us to use it for the core missions of the state. I don’t know that we’ll be able to fill the holes with the stimulus money even if you ignore the one-time nonrecurring holes."

He said his committee will identify all funding "that is not critical to essential state services."

"Fun and games, huh?,'' he said.

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