Posted on 03/01/2010 9:36:54 PM PST by topfile
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — William in Chicago wants to increase Illinois' gas tax by a dime a gallon. MK in Naperville suggests an Internet sales tax. Bill in Crete says to get rid of state government air travel and require legislators to carpool when they come to Springfield.
Another Chicagoan suggests dissolving the Legislature altogether: "Let the people govern themselves. We certainly couldn't do worse."
These are among the more than 2,000 responses so far to Gov. Pat Quinn's online invitation last week for public input on how to address the state's budget crisis.
Illinois is facing an almost $13 billion budget shortfall next year. The total budget is about $56 billion, but half of that is earmarked for federal programs, dedicated road funds and other things that can't be touched. The state's regular working budget is about $26 billion — which means that, without major new revenue, about half of it would have to be cut to get it in balance.
-snip-
But even a 100 percent work force cut wouldn't erase the deficit. According to the state comptroller's office, state's total gross state payroll in calendar year 2009 for all state employees was $4.35 billion. That means that even the theoretical firing of every single state employee — from the governor to the part-time grounds workers at the state fair — would cover only about one-third of the projected shortfall.
(Excerpt) Read more at stltoday.com ...
And I doubt “cutting taxes” is not in the mix.
The last time the morons in Springfield proposed raising the state income tax from 3% to 4.5%, they said it would only be a 1.5% increase.
Liberal math.
First thing we need to do is fire every multicultural director of this, and diversity coordinator of that. All levels of government.
Make universities cut liberal arts programs that don’t pay for themselves.
In public school, require all parents, children, and guardians to be US citizens. If you’re not….fine we will enroll you, right after a call to INS.
All drug dealers can get suspended sentences if they move out of state for 20 years. This includes all emendate family.
The Democratic and Republican parties must pay taxes on all contributions.
News organizations that comment on politics and support a candidate must also pay the tax.
Any money raised for a political think tank shall be taxed 67%
Any child under the age of majority having a child must reimburse the state of all costs associated with the states care. Father we be held equally libel,
All members of the state government must pay their own way to and from home.
Tell the Feds to keep the money and start throwing out these insane unfunded mandates.
All governmental employees must take a 5% reduction of three years.
All business that provide a donation to a political cause will pay a 89% tax on that donation.
Very good ideas all.
Taxing politicians on their donations is a particularly great idea!
California, meet Illinois.
“The last time the morons in Springfield proposed raising the state income tax from 3% to 4.5%, they said it would only be a 1.5% increase.
Liberal math.”
They are good at this - property taxes here for various taxing bodies only add “a few cents each” to property taxes every year. There’s a school tax on virtually everything you do here. You literally can’t flush the toilet without paying a school tax. The system should be producing an army of geniuses.
“First thing we need to do is fire every multicultural director of this, and diversity coordinator of that. All levels of government.”
Not just in the government. As far as I know, WW II and the Cold War were won without “facilitators” and “coordinators”. I wonder how many facilitators they have in China or Japan?
Take the regular working budget, and slash it 50% across the board, or file for bankruptcy.
When Michelle Obama left Chicago to live in the White House, somehow the Chicago hospital employing her was able to get by not filling her $300,000 per year job. No doubt state and local government has thousands of unnecessary jobs and billions of dollars of wasted payroll that could be cancelled without missing a beat.
Somehow, companies in the private sector are able to slash expenses to bring operating costs in line with revenues when tough times occur. Put 10 private sector chief financial officers in a room with the state budget and a real projection of revenue and they could bring back a balanced budget with spending cuts identified within 24 hours. It is a matter of establishing priorities. List essential functions in order of priority, fund them in order of priority, and cancel the remaining programs once the money runs out.
Can we just sell or auction off both those places?
I'll spring for the eBay listing fees...
The Illinois legislature should decrease pension payments, starting with people who retire five years from now. When someone retires from the military, his or her pension is 50% of his or her average base pay of the previous three years. Some former employees of the Illinois government receive pensions that are more than their most recent salary, and few of them risk their lives, in their work.
I think you mistook my meaning. If a department doesn’t have enough students historically to justify the factually needed then it should be cut. Many courses are only offered because the university requires them. Like social justice classes. If I am paying for my education I want my money spent on me, not on the two 1800’s feminist lesbian literature students that are 10x’s more costly to educate.
These are tough times and tax dollars need to be spent wisely. If people aren’t willing to pay for it don’t sell it.
Now if the university isn’t taking public money I could care less.
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