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Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Memo to Albany: It's Your Job

You applaud the Governor's proposal of a 2% across the board budget cut, saying, "That is the fairest way to go." (Memo to Albany: It's Your Job, New York Times, November 27, 2010: A14)

There are two problems with the across the board approach.

First, it is the lazy man's way of budgeting. It prevents one from taking a hard look at all the expenditures and making tough choices about which are justified and which can be cut.

Second, it is manifestly unfair. A Department that is running a tight ship with little slack will be badly impacted in its ability to deliver services. A Department that is fat and flabby will be able to maintain its critical activities by divesting less productive endeavors.

What Albany needs is precision and focus in its budgetary activities.



Sent to New York Times

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