Why not cut state employees salary and benefits?
Salaries are a relatively small part of the state budget. They could be eliminated entirely and still not solve the crisis. In addition, salary and benefits are set by contract, so officials can’t suddenly impose cuts. The largest state workers’ union has accepted smaller raises and some unpaid furlough days. The governor, lawmakers and many other state employees are taking furloughs, too. Q: What else is in the package? A: A tax amnesty, for one thing. People who owe back taxes would be able to step forward and pay their bills without facing penalties. Officials hope this will generate $250 million that would otherwise go uncollected. Another idea is to get some cash now for the rights to future revenue the state is supposed to collect from a huge tobacco lawsuit. That could bring in $1.2 billion, but it might shortchange government programs that were counting on that future money. Q: Is there a downside to those kinds of budget maneuvers? A: Yes. The biggest problem is that they brin
