How can the state’s potential budget shortfall be rectified?
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The Delaware Economic and Financial Advisory Council reported Oct. 20 that the state is facing an approximate loss of $400 million over the current and next two fiscal years. In response, Gov. Matt Meyer has called a Nov. 13 extraordinary session of the General Assembly to address the impending deficit. What would you recommend to state legislators and the governor regarding the shortfall?
Don’t build the Legislative Hall garage and tunnel. — David Wisor
We need a businessperson as governor and not a politician. — Howard Brobst
The University of Delaware needs to pay property taxes and its employees’ salaries, not the taxpayers. — Dee Taylor
Don’t spend more than you collect. That and don’t build useless garages. — Keith Rudy
Stop overtaxing. Stop overspending. Stay within your budget. — John T. Springer
They were staying within the budget, but then, the federal government passed a bill that allows corporations to steal back taxes they already paid from 2022 forward that were already spent in past budgets. How do you budget for codes in a bill that wasn’t passed yet? — Freyja Mortillfem
Employ the same solution you would to your own personal situation: Reduce expenses! This is a basic economic question with a simple solution. If your expenses exceed income, you either trim expenses, or you increase income. Unfortunately, and historically, our Democratic representatives only know one part of this answer, so despite the hardship they impose on the taxpayer, they raise income by raising taxes. God forbid they would ever so much as consider looking to cut wasteful spending or programs that have been proven ineffective at addressing the issue for which they were created. — Dennis Kirkwood
Reduce spending and cut waste. What does the average family do when they realize they are $40,000 to $400,000 in debt? What does a family do when they learn they just lost a portion of their income? — Bob Hice
Well, if you vote Republican, you will get financial responsibility, and they will only spend what they can. If you vote Democratic, you will get higher taxes. — Kim Hartline
Every year, the state of Delaware says there is a deficit. Lo and behold, money is found! How can that be? If there is a true deficit, get rid of some of the higher-paid appointed positions. Do we really need so many? No. With so many appointments, there comes staff alongside them, benefits for all, cars, office space, travel expenses. It’s way too much. The state of Delaware is the largest employer in the state. There’s too many. — Sandy Johnson
Obviously, reduce spending, but how about trying to get some of those businesses that left Delaware to come back? The loss of the taxes they paid nearly equals our shortfall. Delaware used to be friendly to corporations. — Ellen Hart Richardson
Consolidate school districts. — Angelica Mamani
Stop giving money to the Delaware Department of Transportation for companies to do traffic studies. — Tracy L. Thomas
Cut programs. — Jonathan Contant
End the corrupt practice of grant-in-aid, in which state legislators can vote to give money to organizations run by colleagues, their spouses and even their kids. Replace it with a competitive grant system run by state agencies and free from political influence. Issue grants that are based on the needs of the communities represented, rather than the interests of state legislators. When state legislators are allowed to issue cash grants in exchange for political support, we all lose. — David Mariner
First, taxpayers should not have to pay for higher education costs for operation. Second, don’t build the garage at Legislative Hall. Third, since those fancy diet drugs are costing taxpayers $17 million, cut those from the drug formulary for state employees. — Nancy Retkowski Cushman
Sell off property not being used! — Benton Garrison
A 5%-10% decrease in money given to all state agencies, a hiring freeze that includes all promotions not paid for in the last budget and tax the college endowments as income for the school. If they roll them into their operating expenses, they wouldn’t be income. Secondary education should be self-sufficient, considering tuition significantly increases every semester. — Mel Mahoney
