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HANNIBAL, MO. (AP) -- Gov. Jay Nixon says about $500 million will need to be trimmed from his Missouri budget proposal for next year.

And he's offering some suggestions.

Nixon has been meeting with Republican and Democratic legislators to warn them about the budget shortfall. The gap is due
partly to lower than expected state tax revenues, but also to uncertainty over federal funding for Missouri.

On Saturday, Nixon told reporters that Missouri might be able to save some money by consolidating state buildings and laboratories, or getting rid of some vehicles and state holidays. He says another possibility for savings could be privatizing the collection of child support payments.

The governor says he hopes to make more announcements about Missouri's revenues and budget by next Thursday.

(Copyright ©2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)