0Ten Brutal Budget CutsState and local governments have taken the brunt of the $400 billion in budget shortfalls—and next year will be worse. From freeing prisoners to shortening school weeks, Benjamin Sarlin presents 10 of the toughest cuts.Updated Jul. 14, 2017 9:12PM ET / Published Dec. 05, 2010 2:24PM ET Ross D. Franklin / AP Photo,Ross D. Franklin 1. Stop Financing Organ TransplantsRoss D. Franklin / AP Photo 2. Dropping Out of MedicaidJessica Rinaldi / Reuters 3. Cutting Zoos’ Budgets in HalfMary Schwalm / AP Photo 4. Slashing Funds for ChemotherapyJae C. Hong / AP Photo 5. Permanently Eliminating the Public LibraryMatt Rourke / AP Photo 6. Fighting Fire Without FiretrucksRebecca Cook / Reuters 7. Shrinking the School Week to Four DaysKarin Zeitvogel, AFP / Getty Images 8. Turning Off Streetlights, Removing Trash CansRichard Cummins, Lonely Planet Images / Newscom 9. Canceling Champions’ ParadesMatt Sayles / AP Photo 10. Freeing the PrisonersEric Risberg / AP Photo
1. Stop Financing Organ TransplantsRoss D. Franklin / AP Photo 2. Dropping Out of MedicaidJessica Rinaldi / Reuters 3. Cutting Zoos’ Budgets in HalfMary Schwalm / AP Photo 4. Slashing Funds for ChemotherapyJae C. Hong / AP Photo 5. Permanently Eliminating the Public LibraryMatt Rourke / AP Photo 6. Fighting Fire Without FiretrucksRebecca Cook / Reuters 7. Shrinking the School Week to Four DaysKarin Zeitvogel, AFP / Getty Images 8. Turning Off Streetlights, Removing Trash CansRichard Cummins, Lonely Planet Images / Newscom 9. Canceling Champions’ ParadesMatt Sayles / AP Photo 10. Freeing the PrisonersEric Risberg / AP Photo