However, it appears that neither Franchot nor Kopp are enthusiastic about these cuts: He focused particular attention on cuts in health care, the University System of Maryland, foster care, small business programs, community colleges and assistance to the developmentally disabled. "I have a lot of concerns about the individual cuts, but I also have concerns about the whole situation," Franchot said. "We are asking the most vulnerable in the state to make sacrifices, but we haven't asked the most affluent." [...] Treasurer Nancy K. Kopp, the third member of the board, said she believed O'Malley had found ways to make government more efficient and had not seriously jeopardized any important state programs. However, she cautioned that more revenue, not more cuts, is the answer to the budget shortfall. "You have to remember, they came after four years of insufficient funding for very important programs," Kopp said. "It's not like it's the first set of cuts. ... Further sacrifices down the road would be a mistake, I believe." Also unhappy, as might be expected, are the Republicans: Del. Steve Schuh, an Anne Arundel Republican who serves on the Appropriations Committee, said the cuts are a good first step - so long as the rest of the shortfall isn't closed by tax increases alone. "That would roughly translate to $700 more per Maryland family if the remainder of the budget problem is solved by increasing taxes," Schuh said. "In light of the very substantial increases in energy costs, gasoline, property taxes and water bills, another $700 on Maryland families would probably not be prudent." Neither is organized labor happy with the cuts, as reported yesterday: The cuts, for example, include a $1.5 million reduction in the budget of the Maryland State Police, which officials said could be achieved by holding positions vacant longer and reducing spending on travel, equipment and gas. The cut represents less than 1 percent of the agency budget. Pete Peterson, a pilot with the state police, suggested the cuts could hamper the efforts of an already overworked 40-person crew. "This small but highly skilled force is dwindling through attrition to the point where the state's medevac function is stretched to the limit," Peterson said at the event, organized by the Maryland chapter of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. And we've only gotten started! Seriously, I predict there will likely be some more budget cuts, but the bulk of budget gap will go toward tax rate increases, expansions of existing taxes, maybe even a (limited) slot machine program. No one, however, is going to wind up happy at the end. |
