No one group should be burdened with the reckless overspending of the Delaware Governor and Legislature. State workers do not deserve a paycut and Delaware citizens do not deserve a tax increase. There are many others ways to balance the FY10 budget that will not only help short term but long term as well.
The first thing that needs to be done is pass a constitutional amendment limiting how much money can be spent by our government, by a percentage. For instance, we should limit their spending to population growth plus inflation (typically about 2%) each year. If you take the last budget by Governor Mike Castle, and added population growth plus inflation increases in each years budget, and only held it to that, we would be in a surplus situation of approximately $800 million for this current fiscal year. Delaware legislators have a spending problem.
Second, cut the current vacant jobs within the state and then offer early retirement. Employees could retire, and have their position frozen until it has been reviewed by a Human Resources committee (outside of the agency where that position is vacant, or by committee of business executives much like the Governor did to evaluate our state government). Those positions that need to be filled will be rehired; however, the State will still get a cost savings as the new people that you are hiring are making significantly less than someone who has been employed 20 plus years.
Third, close Emily P. Bissell and Governor Bacon hospitals. Yes, I know that it will cost money up front to renovate the Hospital for the Chronically Ill, but, there is significant long term cost savings by closing these two hospitals and consolidating into one hospital in Smyrna.
Fourth, CONSOLIDATE THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS! We have all seen the obscene amounts of money that the 429 school administrators are paid. I personally want my money getting to the classroom, not the pockets of redundant administrators. Administrators should be compensated accordingly; however, we DO NOT NEED 429 OF THEM. State Representative Bill Carson (D) from the 28th Representative District, recently stated that “all day kindergarten and the Delaware SEED program is a nice thing when times are good”. Keeping all day kindergarten and the SEED program is an investment in the future of Delaware. Rep. Carson, your priorities are way out of line. Nineteen school districts for a state our size is shameful, especially when we are ranked 43rd in the nation for the high school graduation rate, and 42nd in SAT scores. Delaware spends almost $14,000 per pupil – 6th highest in the nation. I don’t think we are getting a good return on our money.
Fifth, sell off the golf courses and marinas – this was just a plain stupid investment.
Lastly, vote out every single incumbent in the next state elections. Most of them have been there over the last eight-who knows how long years. The only ones that I would keep in office are the Representatives and Senators that have voted no to Governor Minner's budgets the last eight years.
That, my friends, is how we fix Delaware. No state worker pay cuts, no tax increases, period.
