(SALT LAKE CITY)-Tuesday, as the Utah state Legislature resumed, the state’s Executive Appropriations Committee swiftly decided to slash 7 percent from the upcoming state budget.

The only significant debate was over a failed attempt by minority Democrats to keep the budget set to take effect at the current levels July 1.

The total amount of cuts approved in a split vote along party lines is $329 million while most of the budget subcommittees over each area are still deciding exactly where to cut.

Earlier in the day, several members of the Public Education Appropriations Subcommittee expressed uneasiness at making budget decisions with what they believe is “insufficiently detailed” information.

Committee co-chairman, Representative Chris Buttars of West Jordan asked the State Office of Education to come back with more detailed explanations as to how individual schools would be spending their share of the nearly $3 billion public education budget.

Senate Minority Leader Ross Romero of Salt Lake City sought to get the Executive Appropriations Committee to avoid budget cuts by tapping into some $216 million in revenue growth projected for next year.

Senate President Michael Waddoups of Taylorsville says the public is calling for more budget cuts and without chopping certain areas of the budget, Waddoups said there won’t be enough money to handle other state needs, such as growth in education.