The Kentucky state budget deadline looms. There could be a shutdown of some sort. We’ve heard it all before: Need more money. Need to borrow more money. Need to spend more money. And more promises on the worn-out path of broken promises.
Why not just shut down? Our government leaders don’t create anything productive people need to buy. They don’t aggressively streamline operations, innovate or create jobs. They aren’t driven by competition to continuously improve. They haven’t proven they can stretch a dollar when time is of the essence. They retain, pay and reward state workers regardless of the economy and regardless of performance.
A University of Michigan economics professor concluded in a recent study that government employees make 45 percent more on average than private sector employees.
We know Kentucky state worker health care, pension, other job benefits and the work culture cost taxpayers a bundle. So how many state employees do we really need under these conditions when we can’t afford what we have?
We know that the bonding some want for schools will be covered by state mandated prevailing wage restrictions that stifle competitive innovation and increase cost. But those prescriptive restrictions are sacred. They can't be touched. In a shootout between improving schools or maintaining paybacks to unions, the kids lose every time.
Greece is getting a wake up call. California is getting a wake up call. Financial institutions got a wake up call. But Kentucky spenders can’t hear the phone.
It’s time to see how Kentucky government leaders perform with much less money to spend. After all, that’s what they are paid to do – lead with fiscally responsible approaches and get better results at less cost.
Why not just shut down? Our government leaders don’t create anything productive people need to buy. They don’t aggressively streamline operations, innovate or create jobs. They aren’t driven by competition to continuously improve. They haven’t proven they can stretch a dollar when time is of the essence. They retain, pay and reward state workers regardless of the economy and regardless of performance.
A University of Michigan economics professor concluded in a recent study that government employees make 45 percent more on average than private sector employees.
We know Kentucky state worker health care, pension, other job benefits and the work culture cost taxpayers a bundle. So how many state employees do we really need under these conditions when we can’t afford what we have?
We know that the bonding some want for schools will be covered by state mandated prevailing wage restrictions that stifle competitive innovation and increase cost. But those prescriptive restrictions are sacred. They can't be touched. In a shootout between improving schools or maintaining paybacks to unions, the kids lose every time.
Greece is getting a wake up call. California is getting a wake up call. Financial institutions got a wake up call. But Kentucky spenders can’t hear the phone.
It’s time to see how Kentucky government leaders perform with much less money to spend. After all, that’s what they are paid to do – lead with fiscally responsible approaches and get better results at less cost.
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