Just a couple months after signing a two-year budget that slashed about $4 billion from state spending plans, Gov. Chris Gregoire has told state agencies to get ready for another round of cuts.

Citing ongoing economic worries, Gregoire on Monday ordered agency directors to prepare for cuts of up to 10 percent - or $1.7 billion.

Gregoire notified state employees in a mass email. "Trust me, I continually wish I had better news to share," she wrote. "But as those on the front line representing our state in these most difficult of circumstances, it is essential that you be informed of the challenges ahead of us."

Marty Brown, Gregoire's budget director, sent a memo to agency directors telling them to prepare a list of how they'd deal with spending cuts of 5 or 10 percent.

Filed Under : Spending Cuts