In his budget address Tuesday, Gov. Mike Rounds plans to say that the state Highway Patrol will get back some of the $2 million that was cut last year, according to Neil Fulton, Rounds' chief of staff.

Last year, the cuts came in overtime pay and delaying some new vehicle purchases. Troopers were also required to do more stationary patrols.

Fulton wouldn't say how much money will be restored but did say the state Department of Public Safety will continue to practice some of the cost-cutting measures implemented by the administration. They are good management tactics regardless of whether the budget is tight, he said.

The Highway Patrol cut sparked some heated rhetoric in the 2008 legislative session.

Rounds this week announced a state government hiring freeze, stopping all non-mandatory out-of-state travel and halting large purchases within the executive branch.

Officials say there are more than 70 jobs open that will not be filled without Rounds' permission.

Fulton said the governor will make exceptions based on need. The governor's office already has made exceptions for some jobs open at the state Human Services Center in Yankton, he said.

Rounds said this week that state revenue isn't keeping up with projections set by the Legislature months ago.

He will give the 2009 Legislature his proposed state budget Tuesday afternoon at the state Capitol in Pierre. Rounds has said the economic downturn could last through the next fiscal year and that the length of the recession has made assembling the budget one of the most challenging tasks of his administration.

The governor said three areas that are first in line for funding are education, social services and the court system