Across-the-board cuts

Pennsylvania townships and boroughs are facing budget shortfalls of major proportions.  This is mostly a result of declining tax revenues and decreased state aid.  The state government itself is awash in red ink.

Let’s make this personal.  Say your boss tells you that your hours will be reduced and, as a result, your take-home pay will be cut by 20 percent.  After the initial panic, you realize you will have to do some serious planning.  What you won’t do is cut every item in your budget by 20%.  That might seem reasonable on the surface, but your landlord might not understand when you cut your rent payments by 20%.  If gas prices rise, you might actually have to increase that item.  On the other hand, the trip to Disney World can be eliminated completely this year.

Across-the-board cuts make no sense for a family.  They don’t make any more sense when governments implement them.  Some programs might be cut, others could be eliminated, and perhaps some vital programs should receive a larger allocation, even in a recession.  

The next time you hear an official propose across-the-board cuts, you know you are dealing with someone who either can’t make difficult decisions or is just plain dumb.

Note:  I thought President Obama’s memorial speech in Tucson was moving.  The whole ceremony was impressive, but to me the yelling and whistling from the audience seemed out of place at such an event.  Perhaps I’m being unfair--LInda felt it might be cathartic.