2008-09 Government Budgets: What To Cut?
It seems that 2008-09 will be another tough time for the budgets of state government. Click on the link below and read a memo recently sent to all members of the Florida House of Representatives detailing the budget challenges:
http://miamiherald.typepad.com/nakedpolitics/files/sansom_memo.pdf
Obviously, state budget problems have a trickle down impact on city and county governments. Not too long ago there was an op-ed piece in the Star-Banner from the chairman of the county commission (Charlie Stone) outlining the county’s overall 2008-09 challenges, including budget issues. Local city governments are also not immune from the budget short fall. Compounding the problem is the upcoming vote on Amendment 1, a ballot initiative that further reduces state and local revenues by giving taxpayers some modest property tax relief.
In these trying times for those involved in preparing budgets, we would like to have your feedback on what the decision makers should consider in determining what stays or goes in the budgets. Make no mistake; there will have to be some budget items that are “CUT”.
How would you prioritize the various items in the government budgets? Should library expenditures be cut and used for items like roads and/or fire protection? These are some of the hard decisions that will most likely be debated during budget preparation.
We look forward to your comments.
posted by Blog Master @ 10:31 AM
27 Comments:
Fix the problems in Washington D.C. the discussion about State & Local budget cuts wouldn't even be required.
GO BARACK OBAMA!
Sansom's letter to the legisalture is interesting in that he says: No additional bonding for new or existing initiatives. Debt will already exceed the 6% goal.
Is that a good or bad sign for the State budgets?
What about that Mr. Ellsworth?
It’s not just about cutting budgets. It’s about how to share the burden of government with more people than primarily property owners and businesses.
Florida governments need more revenue, not less. They need to use sales tax and even an income tax (yes, those Florida swear words!) to broaden beyond continuing to hit up home owners for the increased expense of running government.
Expense reduction is important but so are revenues. Any business that just keeps cutting costs but with no increases in sales revenue is eventually doomed to fail.
State income tax? You're spoofing us? Right?
We could use a Mayor like the fellow from Deltona. He's working on a budget that will eliminate all property taxes for the people who live in that city. Where's our mayor on the problem of high taxes?
1:03 PM
AMEN!
Anonymous :
There is good and bad in Mr. Sansom'statement on bonded State debt.
Mr. Sansom's is correct in not further placing the state in more bonded debt.
Alarming though, is that the 6% cap is already exceeded. This debt must be paid from declining revenues which could possibly lead to default in a bad recession; which has already been described as being especially hard on Florida.
Sansom correctly identifies Florida as being generaly worse economically than the country.
Concerning economic developement, I have no idea what loosening regulations would do.
Sansom makes no specific recommendation concerning new industry which will be difficult to do in a recessionary climate.
Sansom's letter, which includes a grim but accurate assement of the state of Florida's perilious financial situation, is right on target.
Clayton Ellsworth
County budget, too many chiefs. Scalp 'em.
Our Mayor does not participate in discussions of budget or any other matters. He unfortunately just sits there. --pwf
All the budget problems talk and our brilliant conservative Governor is planning one billion dollars of new State spending. Can you believe it????
Watch this weeks news.
ZBB
"PWF"
If we can't have a Mayor like the fellow in Deltona--let's hope the City Council hires a City Manager who will be able to get our taxes down. We don't need more politicians occupying chairs.
The Governor is really hot on the Vote Yes on Amendment 1 campaign___he gave $10 of his own money toward the campaign. WOW!!!
6:22pm
You mean $10 of YOUR money!?
Cut parks. Cut libraries.
Bingo-$10 million + saved!
Voice of Reason says . . . . .
That’s interesting about the AMA’s efforts because the doctors’ voice is nothing like it was. You would think that everything is fine with them. Being highly cynical, I thought that the doctors were just enjoying a good ride while it lasted.
Stan’s comments are frightening, sounds like the state is in for a day of reckoning. One hope might be young people’s willingness to pursue a medical career solely because that is what they want to do. Forgetting the arguments for or against socialized medicine, it does seem that those countries which do have socialized medicine have no lack of willing students. Maybe Grey’s Anatomy will keep young people thinking that being a doctor is the bee’s knees. Maybe reruns of Dr. Alex Stone on the Donna Reed would help also?
Ellsworth’s comments bring up an issue, what about hospital income? Was he saying that the doctors’ portion was approximately $2,600 out of $60,000? Where did all of the other $60,000 go? Maybe a closer look at the county hospital budget is in order?
VoR
Anon at 8:42 PM, January 14, 2008
you really want to save some money? cut the $500 mill for to schools. you know they aint worth a damn and that is real money. parks and libraries are just a drop in bucket. sides, i like to read.
remember this, our Populist governor has run aroung the state preaching property tax reform.
his solution???? let Tallahassee keep spending and let the counties and municipalities do the slicing.
Always thought you were supposed to lead by example.
Voice of Reason,
Sorry to have painted such a bleak picture of health care for you. But reality is reality.
You mentioned looking at hospital budgets. We have and the scene is much the same as with the doctor situation Clayton Ellsworth described. Costs required to provide services are increasing much more than the revenues to cover them. 65%-70% of Munroe’s patients are Medicare or Medicaid, meaning declining reimbursements—same as with the doctors.
Also, being a community hospital, we are required to provide services to all (including the uninsured and indigent). How would you like to run a business that writes off about $3.5 million of revenue every month for uncompensated care? Yes, every month! That represents 6% of monthly revenues.
I agree with the person above about Charlie Crist. Tell local government to hold down spending but spend more in Tallahassee. What a dick head.
Voice . ..
Stan told you the following
"Also, being a community hospital, we are required to provide services to all (including the uninsured and indigent). How would you like to run a business that writes off about $3.5 million of revenue every month for uncompensated care? Yes, every month! That represents 6% of monthly revenues."
In effect, this is a tax on the hospital. at $3,5 mill a month, that is $42 million a year in uncompensated costs, or a tax on revenues which someone msot pay. Its is paid by people with insurance and who pay cash, and by the fact that the hospital no longer has large reserves. It amounts to a tax -- sort of a proprty tax for doing business in Marion County. If I am wrong, he can cortrect me. --pwf
overheard last night
"city council is the only group that can make county commissioners look sensible!"
Paying $1,200 for our patrol cars, removing 25% of all our light bulbs,
no cost of living, no raises,no overtime, possible District Office shutdown, possible 6% reduction of everyones base pay, no volunteers, no crime watches, no school cops etc...
Welcome to the Marion County Sheriff's Office! Is Governor CHARLIE going to reap the whirlwind loss of services in Ocala, Marion County, Florida because of Amendment One! No, it's only going to effect the people who live here.
Don't believe? Wait and see!
For the sake of this posting, lets assume you are a college educated 22 year old young man or woman and landed your very first "real" job making $25,000 a year. Let's also assume you had other job offers with higher starting salaries, but the perks weren't as attractive. Prior to taking the job they offered you a company car that you could use outside the confines of work, a 6% merit increase each year, 1-3% longevity pay increase yearly, cleaning allowance etc...
Then, within six months of being hired, Amendment one passes and everything goes bye bye. Not only do you lose all of the perks, you are now asked to pay $1,200 a year to drive your company car to and from work. If you would like to utilize it outside of work you must pay an additional 15 cents a mile.
So instead of increasing your base salary to $26,500, you are now making $23,800, $2,700 less than you did when you started. This is exactly what is happening to young deputies of the Marion County Sheriff's Office. THANK YOU GOVERNOR CRIST....SLEEP WELL MY FRIEND.
PATROL CAR $1,200
NO MERIT INCREASE $4,200
FORCING GOVERNOR CRIST OUT OF THE MANSION'S CLOSET.......PRICELESS!
Crist is too busy running for VP to be concerned with local problems. I think Sheriff Dean should take his case for his budget to Tallahassee and not fool around with 5 County Commiss. who don't know anything about the requirements of running a law enforcement department. Dean might just win some points.
Isn't that a peach! Governor Crist, the architect of Amendment One,could be the next Vice President of the United States!!!! I'm a registered Republican and a big John McCain fan, but I may have to jump parties and vote for Hillary instead. Then again, at least he'd be out of Florida!
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