As state government continues to face declining revenues, Gov. Jan Brewer has asked agencies to start planning for 15 percent budget cuts to make up for what is shaping up to be a $1.5 billion shortfall this fiscal year and $2.5 billion next fiscal year.

This is on top of budget cuts already put into place.

It’s now anticipated that Brewer, a Republican, might call another special session of the Legislature before the end of 2009. She is still pushing for lawmakers to ask voters to approve a temporary increase in the state sales tax to 6.6 percent from 5.6 percent. Democrats have opposed the idea and Republicans have been divided so that previous attempts were not approved.

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