Dave Massengale corresponds regularly with The State Worker and our Capitol Bureau colleagues. The State Controller's Office employee has some suggestions for how to fix the state budget that we thought would make for a good discussion on this blog. So, with his permission, we're posting his unedited thoughts here (and these are only his ideas -- he's not speaking for his employer):
Problem
We got here because legislatures kept spending even after the vehicle fee was reduced by Gov S. They say house prices going up so they increased their spending even before taxes were paid.
Solutions
-10% pay cut for all State workers, Legislature, welfare, unemployment and anyone else that gets a paycheck from the State.
-10% cut to all depts and offices budgets.
-post all payments over $20,000 so the public can see what is being spent on the special projects and pork spending.
-eliminate all solar & wind projects that don't project a profit within 5 years from implementation. If it is a good thing, it should be able to start generating profit quickly.
-50% cut to all per diem and eliminate the legislative vehicle program, let them pay for their own rental if they want one.
-Put illegal aliens in federal prison and let the feds pay for them. Border control is a federal issue not state. Feds can pay to secure the border or house the illegals.
Dave Massengale
The Author
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