Gov. Bill Richardson is warning of cuts in critical state services in the wake of a Legislature-approved package of budget cuts, but his office couldn't provide details Monday on where those cuts could come.

Richardson is reviewing a package of spending cuts and other budget fixes that puts $526 million toward the deficit. The Legislature approved the plan last week before adjourning its special session to address a $650 million shortfall. The cuts call for reducing spending, including on education, by $253 million this year.

"While the Legislature made minimal cuts to education, legislators targeted state agencies under the control of the governor for the most drastic cuts," his office said in a statement.

"That means critical services will be cut. For example, while legislators claimed to have protected Medicaid funding, critical programs such as behavioral health care, children's health and programs for the elderly were not spared."

His office said no details were available yet and that staff are analyzing the cuts, which range from 2 percent to nearly 8 percent.

Messages to 12 public information officers seeking comment about what cuts would be made at agencies, and what process would be used to make the cuts, were all routed to the Governor's Office. Spokesman Gilbert Gallegos said he would be the only one responding to media inquiries about the cuts.

Richardson has called the cuts excessive; many lawmakers from both parties said last week that they don't go far enough and that the Legislature in 2010 will face even tougher fiscal decisions.

The governor has 20 days to act on the budget and is seeking public input. He will hold office hours from 2 to 5 p.m. today on the fourth floor of the state Capitol. Those who cannot attend those meetings can e-mail special.session@state.nm.us or call 505-476-2210 with input, his office said.

Agencies beyond the governor's control have already started reducing their spending, some even before lawmakers met.

At the Attorney General's Office, spokesman Phil Sisneros said only critical travel is allowed. Office supplies are on a "must have to operate" status. New hires have also been curtailed, he said, and the office's Consumer Protection Division has reduced the number of hours it takes complaints from consumers — something that could result in five fewer days per month when people can file complaints.

In addition, many brochures that in the past have been handled by outside firms are now done in-house by the office's communications division, Sisneros said.

"It is our hope that the current budget proposal can be managed and still allow the Attorney General's Office to provide essential services. We are concerned, however, that deeper cuts would impact our ability to defend the state in legal actions and recover much needed settlement money for the general fund; additionally, deeper cuts would have negative effects on our ability to protect New Mexico consumers," he said.

In the state's judicial branch, a trio of magistrate circuit courts have been eliminated, civil case filing fees have gone up $10 to help fund a better case-management system, and jury trials have been eliminated for minor offense without jail penalties, among other things.

Susan Tungate, administrative assistant for New Mexico Supreme Court Chief Justice Edward Chavez, said the court is thankful the Legislature only trimmed the judiciary's budget by 2 percent, saying a cut of 4 percent would have been "devastating" and require temporary furloughs of 1,229 of 1,800 employees.

"We are now in the process of determining how we can make it to the 2010 legislative session without having to temporarily close the 2nd Judicial District, the Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court Building," she said.

At the Secretary of State's Office, spokesman James Flores said leaders met Monday and discussed ideas including keeping vacant positions open and reducing the number of printed publications, including the Election Handbook, New Mexico Constitution and the Blue Book.

Richardson also said Monday that he's freezing capital outlay projects until January and has directed state agencies to cancel all grant agreements for projects.

The halt for the winter applies to projects backed by both the Legislature and Richardson.

The governor in a statement blasted lawmakers for not cutting pork in the special session.

Although lawmakers and staff offered some ideas on projects that could be cut, no list is in place, Gallegos said.

The Department of Finance and Administration will contact state agencies about the freeze.

"If they can prove they have a contract in place with a third party (construction company, engineer, etc), they can move forward with that portion of the project," he said in an e-mail.

"But money for the rest of the project will be frozen. Until we go through that process, there is no way of knowing which projects will be affected. We anticipate, just as the Legislature anticipated, there are as many as $150 million worth of projects that could be affected," Gallegos said.

There also were no details from the Governor's Office on Monday about whether layoffs are included in the spending cuts. Richardson said shortly after the session adjourned that layoffs are likely.

While the Legislature avoided layoffs and furloughs of classified state employees, it did include a directive to eliminate 102 exempt positions, or those who work at the pleasure of the governor. Some of the positions are vacant.

Lt. Gov. Diane Denish, meanwhile, announced a hot line for residents to call with ideas on saving taxpayer money. The number is 505-750-4684.

Contact Kate Nash at 986-3036 or knash@sfnewmexican.com. Read her blog at www.greenchilechatter.com.