Budget watch: It will be interesting to see what happens next

Gov. Bev Perdue has released her proposed budget for this year -- and there is already unrest in Raleigh.

The Democrats are upset because of what has been cut, and the Republicans say not enough has been cut and not in the right places.

The citizens of North Carolina should be happy that at least something is being done to take care of the nearly $3 billion in debt the state faces this year.

The reality is that no one is going to be completely happy with what the governor has come up with -- someone is going to suffer no matter what is proposed.

So the complaining is going to be loud, and it is going to be enduring.

But this is a necessary move if we want to put this state back in the column of fiscally responsible.

Budgets are not moving targets. You cannot spend money you are not taking in.

While it would be nice to accomplish all of the goals most citizens want for their state, the reality is we simply do not have the money to make them happen right now.

Cutting is the responsible thing to do. No matter how hard it is.

Published in Editorials on February 18, 2011 10:57 AM