Delegates who found $1 billion in non-transportation tax increases difficult to pass Saturday struggled Monday to come up with budget cuts to make up next year?s $1.5 billion budget shortfall.

Ultimately, the House Appropriations Committee approved an additional $178 million in reductions. Gov. Martin O?Malley had proposed slowing the growth in spending by $320 million. Altogether, the House committee will recommend about $500 million less in spending for fiscal 2009.