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Local lawmaker discusses bleak budget outlook
By BOB McCLURE
Article published on Tuesday, July 29, 2008 |
SEMINOLE – The City Council received a surprise visit from State Rep. Janet Long July 22 who delivered a “state of the state” message to the seven-member panel.
Long, a Democrat from Seminole who will face Republican challenger Terry Sanchez in November, said the state is already operating at a $400 million deficit since the start of the new budget year July 1.
The primary reason for the drop, she said, is a decline in anticipated sales tax revenue.
“We’re still reeling from the effects of everything we’ve done,” Long said, referring to the recent passage of Amendment 1. “Taxes are paid in arrears so we don’t know what (revenue) to expect.”
With 35 percent of the state’s $66.2 billion budget going to health care, Long said the time has come to look at the big picture and think of alternative ways to save money.
“We need to think outside the box in ways we try to solve problems,” she said. “Planning needs to take place now. Otherwise, we’ll be facing some difficult times.”
Long said 475 state trust funds are now being used to fund expenses they were not intended to be used for.
She warned the City Council and those in attendance that voters need to be more aware of what they are voting for when it comes to constitutional revision.
“As we move ahead, I hope you realize what you’re voting for. Once we make changes in the state constitution (such as Amendment 1, which doubled homestead exemption), it’s very difficult to reverse those changes,” Long said.
Long represents District 51.
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Article published on Tuesday, July 29, 2008
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