In his first inaugural address, Thomas Jefferson said, “a wise and frugal government is the sum of a good government.” This quote needs to hang in big, bold letters above the budget meetings in Tallahassee next year (August 14, “Florida’s budget shortfall may hit $1.2B”).
Tough decisions are going to have to be made so that taxpayers’ wallets are not forced to endure the burden of the projected $1.2 billion deficit. Legislators need to realize that raising taxes will serve only to further hinder the state’s economic growth.
In conjunction with simply reducing spending, the state also needs to look into more innovative governing solutions, such as privatizing state services and infrastructure and enacting more stringent tax and expenditure limits.
If Florida increases taxes and fees, instead of being resourceful, the state’s residents and economy will suffer.
John Nothdurft ([email protected]) is the budget and tax legislative specialist for The Heartland Institute.
John Nothdurft joined the staff of The Heartland Institute in May 2008 and left in January of 2019.
