The only Republican in the Hawaii Senate says the state’s budget can be balanced by making deep cuts and laying off government employees instead of raising taxes.

Sen. Sam Slom on Friday proposed eliminating about 1,500 jobs and about 500 vacant positions as a way to reduce government costs.

He said his budget would eliminate programs that don’t serve essential government purposes.

He said Medicaid services have expanded too far, the Department of Education employs too many administrators and Department of Health functions are unnecessary.

He would retain high-priority services for law enforcement, medical care, coastal protection and prisons, among other areas.

Slom’s bare-bones budget would cost $4.4 billion in general funds, a $500 million decline from the current year’s budget and $1 billion less than the House’s proposal.