In an interesting turn of events, the Governor has put forth a budgetary plan that will keep primary education whole and localities were mostly spared. The folks in Richmond cut some of our Police funds and a few other pots but overall it doesn’t look like things will be that bad…this year. We’ll still have to make some adjustments but it won’t be wholesale damage.
Next year will likely be somewhat different. See, the Governor elected to fill the hole in this years budget by spending most/all of next years “stimulus” money in this year. This is addition to the “stimulus” money that was already budgeted into this years budget. That leaves an aweful hole next year so we (as a state) have just doubled-down on an economic recovery. Let us hope that this actually happens or we’re going to be in worse shape.
I am confident that the Council will have a serious philosophical discussion about what not to do and how to save money well in advance of any serious budgetary issues. As we saw last year, decisive action well in advance of the crisis allows leeway when the dark days arrive.