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.



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