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Budget Figures Disputed

House Budget Committee Chairman says Governor Holden is overestimating next year's budget deficit. Megan Clarke has more.

House Budget Committee Carl Bearden admits the state will have a budget shortfall, but estimates in a worse case scenario 330-million...almost 700 million less than the Governor's projections for fiscal year 2005.

MY BOTTOM LINE TO YOU IS THAT WE DON'T HAVE A BILLION DOLLAR DEFICIT.

Bearden says one of the reasons for the overestimation is due to the projection process not taking into account surrounding economies.

BASICALLY THE MESSAGE I GOT BACK FROM THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE IS WE DON'T THINK IT'S BROKE AND THERE IS NO NEED TO FIX IT. OBVIOUSLY IT'S BROKE AND IT DOES NEED TO BE FIXED. AND WE HAVE TAKEN MORE STEPS IN OUR PROCESS THIS YEAR TO DO THAT.

Missouri's estimated revenue projection is expected late this month.