[Vision2020] surplus

[g. crabtree]

I notice that returning it to the people who actually earned it is conspicuously absent from your list of options. Why does that come as no surprise?

g
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Shirley Ringo 
  To: vision2020 at moscow.com 
  Sent: Thursday, August 09, 2007 2:11 PM
  Subject: [Vision2020] surplus


  Visionaries:

   

  This is my response to Tom Ivie.  It is a shortened version.  I am looking at many options in the areas of corrections, early childhood, corrections, education, healthcare, etc.  I am most interested in suggestions.  Thanks to Tom Ivie for raising the question.

   

  Shirley 

   

  Tom:

   

  First, we need to get a handle on the revenue picture – how much of that can be predicted to be ongoing.

   

  State officials have low-balled revenue projections in past years – this makes it very difficult to build programs that can be sustained because we pretend the money isn’t there.

   

  However, Steve Cook (ag econ, U of I) is cautious at this time.  He is concerned that we are approaching a downturn in the economy.

   

  With that in mind, there are opportunities.  I and others are studying them at this time to see what important programs might be sustained.  Early childcare, substance abuse, mental health, etc.  These programs can reduce pressure on growth of corrections expenditures in the future.

   

  I think we need to resist tax give-backs which will tie our hands.  This type of action caused chaos in the form of holdbacks when legislators short-sightedly coupled tax cuts with a downturn in the economy in 2001-2002.

   

  Shirley

   

   



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