Despite the rumors, even with these tax increases, our taxes are lower than many New England/Mid-Atlantic states. But if you want to convince yourself we’re the highest, feel free.

I look at the state budget the same way I look at my personal budget. If I have more bills than I have income then there are two variables to adjust: Increase my income (take on a second job, for example.) Or decrease my expenses (downsize my lifestyle – eat out less, fire the housekeeper, give up luxuries like Starbucks, cancel my cable… lots of little cuts can be made.)

Sometimes the gap is too big to be overcome by just cutting costs. Certain fixed costs can’t be reduced to zero – food, shelter, healthcare… I have a moral obligation to provide basics for my children (food/shelter) and can’t reduce those expenses to zero.

So the solution is a combination. I increase my income and reduce my expenses to meet my obligations.

This budget does that. It has more $$ in cuts than it gets in tax increases. It’s not perfect, it’s not pretty… but it does get the state running again.