Op Ed
State Budget
An Easy Trim
December 15, 2007
This op-ed states that if State leaders want to avoid tax increases in what is already one of the most heavily taxed states in the nation, they will need to find savings of about $6 billion to $7 billion per year over the next three years. The three largest areas of savings involve Medicaid ($2 billion in annual savings), fringe benefits for state employees ($1.1 billion) and ineffective economic development programs ($800 million).