Jan
28
Where to Trim the Budget?
Filed Under Elections
With the federal government running a debt, each state is being held financially responsible for more and more of its own programs. While federal money used to be directed towards state sponsored programs, states are suddenly trying to absorb federal shortfalls and continue to offer a consistent level of services. Each state must determine how best to cover these shortfalls and where to trim the budget for the coming years.
Each State Legislature is tasked with determining where the budget can be cut or trimmed to save much needed dollars. They will debate information related to each program and take relevant testimony from expert witnesses. They will listen to their constituents and determine how the proposed cuts will impact the citizens of the state. State and local governments will review their ability to raises taxes and other potential revenues.
Trimming the budget will leave some citizens feeling upset or angry. Unfortunately, when budgets are cut, the impact is felt on a personal level. Funding for education, roads, libraries, parks and public services touch people’s everyday lives. Citizens can debate information back and forth but if one area gets funds another areas looses funds. With the current financial crisis raging on every front, states are making difficult decisions for the future of its people.
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12 Responses to “Where to Trim the Budget?”
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Yes, states struggle with some big issues when trimming the budget, including things like costs of living, college costs, and other financial options for citizens. The more they cut, the more the people have to pay. However, I’d rather keep it at the state level than into the hands of the federal government, wouldn’t you?
You know what? Let the grass grow, leave the grafitti up, cut back mail to once a week–find the little things and let the big things alone. People can’t even afford to go to the doctor anymore.
I have been very impressed over the past few days with the number of Republican Governors who are seriously debating NOT accepting the Federal bailout funds. It seems as though there are more catches that ever expected with the monies and once the money is gone most of the programs will still be in place. Who pays for them then? The State.
That would be one of the hardest things to do for someone in the state legislature, decide what to cut and who gets what. Leave out the parks and the little kids suffer. Cut back on police and crime goes thru the roof. Even something as simple as the Library…cut back on it and it will hurt the community. Where do you start?
Arizona’s Sheriff Arpaio has a great way of cutting the budget. He has moved most of the inmates in the Maricopa County jail outside, housing them in Korean war surplus tents and feeding them green balogna. now we just need to figure out how to move the legislators out of their plush offices and how to get them to eliminate those $200 business lunches you and I pay for.
This hit really hard where I work. I work with at-risk kids who are in placement. Over the past year, funding for the kids’ health care and treatment has dropped so dramatically that we can barely function as a treatment facility.
I have drasticly trimmed by weekly spending. the economy is worse than it has been in decades and i cant afford the luxurys i use to be able to afford. times are tough!
I think everyone is struggling right now in the economy. I had to trim my budget drastically because of how bad things are! I hope something improves soon.
I work for a non-profit and this has really affected us in a negative way. Almost every single aspect of the kid’s treatment is getting cut back. It makes our job so much harder.
I definitely think that trimming the budget will benefit American and its citizens overall. We don’t need to be spending money when we are already in debt.
Trimming the budget is definitely something that needs to be done. Start at the top by cutting back salaries. If big business is expected to cut back, why not the government?
I don’t know why the government can’t seem to get it together. I hope that things will change in the coming years so that it will be better for everyone.