Iowa Governor Chet Culver has asked department heads to find ways to cut up to $40 million in state spending over the next seven months because of the economy and disaster expenses.

Spokesman Phil Roeder said Culver has given each agency director a target dollar amount and asked them to share ideas for spending cuts over the next few weeks. Culver will decide after Thanksgiving which trims to make.

Charlie Krogmeier of the Iowa Department of Management said it likely will not mean job cuts, but job openings might not be filled, and new programs could be delayed. Iowa was expected to end its budget year with $85 million in its general fund. But calculations by budget officials show the state will have only about $5 million when the year ends in June.