Lawmakers make tough calls – Now it is our turn – Standard Editorial

Today's Standard Examiner editorial praised the legislature for most of the tough calls it had to make regarding the budget. As I have mentioned numerous times we were facing a 15 percent budget cuts and have now rested at 9 percent. Our beloved Weber State has been spared part of the damage that was foretold in the early days of this legislative session. Yesterday we spent quality time with Sen. Hillyard from Logan, regarding these cuts and how it has affected the state.

I agree with the editorial staff about these tough calls, though I don't agree with all of them, they did a good job none the less. Here are some of the editorials points regarding the tough calls this session have produced:

Lawmakers were able to stave off cuts that would have reduced prison beds as well as a parole violation center.

Education has taken about a 5 percent hit. That's a better result than many were hoping for.

School districts will have a tough responsibility in deciding what to do and what to trim with the smaller funds.

Borrowing $2.2 billion via bonds for road construction and building projects - is another good idea. Utah has boasted a good financial record, and these work projects will keep many people employed in these tough economic times. Lawmakers won't touch the $414 million that is in the state's rainy day fund.

I would like to highlight a simple phrase found near the end of the editorial:

Legislators are concerned that this recession will get worse and Utah will need the cash when the fiscal year ends July 1, 2010, or sooner.

Lawmakers have made tough calls this year. However the reason we didn't see 15 percent cuts is because of one time stimulus money and backfills. As Sen. Killpack made clear in our bloggerpress yesterday, "this is one-time money." Once this money is gone, it is gone! If our economy hasn't rebounded by 2010-2011 we will be faced with the same cuts. 2009 needs to be a year of efficiency in our government. I was impressed during the Higher Education Sub-Committee meetings with Snow College President Scott Wyatt (who is a blogger). He mentioned a process his school had gone through to trim their budget. They had late night meetings, sometimes until midnight, talking with all parties involved in how to trim their budgets and be more efficient. We are currently doing this same thing in my company. Not to find reasons to lay off workers, but to make sure we are doing things efficiently and cost effectively.

Now is not the time to spend as you have in the past. Now is the time review your processes and how you are doing business. Your company can still expand, but only after you have reviewed your efficiency and are sure you have the capital to do so. No one should come to 2010 and be surprised if we have to trim the budget again. Instead you should come prepared to do so with a plan. Protests of shock and awe announcing you were caught unprepared, will not hold water in 2010. If your company can save money, start savings for a 9 percent cut now.

The legislature has made tough calls, now it is our turn.

Read the editorial here