My problem with government (and far too many other entities for that matter) is the total and complete lack of understanding of the budgeting process.

Why is the answer always to raise or add a new tax to accomodate a proposed budget?

When is the last time anyone actually looked at the proposed budget?
Compared the actual expenditures to the proposed budget for the previous year?
Why is the practice of zero based budgeting not made a standard practice?

I gurantee a a zero based budget approach, line item by line item will yield substantial opportunities for reductions.
If it has never been done, I GUARANTEE THERE ARE REDUCTION opportunities.

To many budget proposal processes allow for the automatic continuation of programs from previous years.....whether active or not. Too many allow that as long as the funds are in the budget it is their "check book" balance to spend....VS reconciling aginst what the approved amount was approved.

Budgeting is a game. Politicians, lawyers and most business entities are far too lenient with the budgeting process.

ESPECIALLY WHEN THE SOURCE OF THE FUNDING IS OF NO CONCERN OR CONSEQUENCE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!