A panel discussion sponsored by the Public Affairs Research Council offered several suggestions on how the state might at least alleviate the worst of the budget cuts aimed at higher education, health care and other vulnerable targets. Tapping the state’s rainy-day fund and megafund for relief should be considered, Senate President Joel Chaisson says. “If this is not a rainy day, I don’t know what is,” he says.
Commissioner of Education Sally Clausen, also on the panel today, noted that the state’s 391 statutory funding dedications have been tapped some by the governor but could be tapped more. Clausen encouraged lawmakers to reconsider actions taken during happier economic times. For instance, postponing implementation of last year’s Shaw bill, which eliminated the Stelly Tax on taxpayers, would put $350 million back into the general fund and more than wipe out the proposed $220 million cut to colleges and universities—which are already losing faculty members, Clausen says. “Things are different now,” she says. “We are in crisis.”—Steve Clark
