Deal asks for more state budget cuts

ATLANTA - Gov. Nathan Deal is asking state agencies to find another $553 million in reductions through June 2014.

About half of that amount would come from higher education and from public health - $108 million from the University System of Georgia and $170 million from the Department of Community Health while most K-12 school funding is exempt.

Officials say agencies are still weighing their responses to the order, issued last week, but some will consider layoffs.

The order marks the fifth consecutive year that the governor's Office of Planning and Budget has told department heads to come up with additional reductions. This year's requested cuts are larger than last year's.