Paring down: State is making right move; just why did it take so long?

Getting rid of excess property, culling unnecessary programs and expenses and cutting back on its work force -- all these are moves that state officials are using to get control of a budget that is nothing less than unpredictable.

And all of the moves are good. Right now, just like in thousands of North Carolina families, the state needs to be spending only what is necessary and saving as much money as possible.

But the real question -- and one that perhaps someone needs to think about after the latest financial crisis is over -- is why did it take so long?

If state officials and bureaucrats were spending their own money -- and their salaries were determined by how efficiently they accomplished that task -- you can bet there would be very few dollars tossed around like they mean nothing.

There would be scrutiny of budgets and expenditures and plenty of cutting back, making do and looking for ways to spend less.

North Carolina taxpayers should remember these days later, when the bottom line is brighter -- and push their legislators and government officials to think before they spend.

If they do, we might not have to go through this again.

Published in Editorials on September 23, 2011 10:56 AM