(STATE HOUSE)-State Auditor Connie Nass reiterated today that she has identified millions of dollars that could be used to alleviate Indiana's temporary budget shortfall. She again called upon the Governor to examine his priorities and to stop scaring Hoosier families with threats of firing teachers.

Auditor Nass indicated that her staff has identified $278.4 million that could be used to address the state's budget deficit without raising taxes or reducing services. "The governor has chosen to ignore these funds," said Nass. "This money can be used to protect Hoosier teachers and prevent tax increases to support a temporary shortfall in the General Fund and without affecting any present program.

"Before he can, in good faith, ask Hoosier taxpayers for permanent tax increases, the Governor must first examine the use of every dollar already collected. Before he can, in good faith, gut education and fire our teachers, he must come to the table with an open mind, not a take-it-or-leave-it approach. Hard working Hoosiers deserve that kind of effort from their leaders."

Nass called on Governor O'Bannon to conduct a thorough examination of existing accounts before education is cut or taxes hiked to address the state's temporary budgetary shortfall. Throughout the legislative session, Governor O'Bannon proposed permanent tax increases and threatened cuts to essential services including education to address the state's budget deficit. Now he is threatening education cuts equal to the salaries of about 2,800 teachers.

"The legislative session that ended last week was doomed from the start by his gun-to-the-head approach," said Nass. "When Indiana needed leadership, Governor O'Bannon instead tried to bully his way through by offering scare tactics and false choices."

"With the governor's insistence on increasing taxes, our office began an examination of these accounts to see if potential savings to Hoosier taxpayers could be found. The Senate had the good sense to include some of these funds in its final version of House Bill 1004," Nass continued.

"Every Hoosier taxpayer dollar counts," declared Auditor Nass. "We surely should use the money that state government already has before the governor asks for more."