Paulson: Taking on the budget challenge

Our debt is passing $13 trillion. Economist Nouriel Roubini warns, "What has happened in Greece could happen in the U.S. We have the debt of the federal government. Many state and local governments are bankrupt. There are unfunded liabilities for Social Security. There are unfunded liabilities for state pensions."

Trillion-dollar deficits are not sustainable. Politicians and administrators talk about the pain in cutting spending, but too often forget the pain citizens experience paying more fees and higher taxes. Governments don't bear the cost of anything; citizens do.

Too many politicians are more interested in being popular than responsible. They're spending more, expanding entitlements and printing money rather than cutting budgets. Tackling the deficit isn't easy. Leadership never is. Both leaders and citizens would like more money to spend, but stark economic realities are forcing all to cut expenses. There is a sign in the California Finance Department that should have been chiseled in stone: "Nothing inspires genius like a tight budget."

Too many leaders take 15 percent away from everybody, instead of funding what's core. Don't think more with less; do less with what you have! You can't let the things that matter most be at the mercy of the expenses that matter least.

It's time to get things done; some are. Jeff Baarstad, deputy superintendent of the Conejo Valley Unified School District and budget committee chairman, embraces the challenge.

"It's incumbent upon the leaders of public agencies to focus on providing the highest quality services possible with the tax dollars we're provided," he said. "We must be crystal clear about the core services we've been commissioned to provide and place the lion's share of our resources behind those services. That boils down to a qualified and caring teacher in a clean, comfortable and safe classroom, with a reasonable class size, and access to the materials and supplies necessary to give students the knowledge and skills necessary for success in college and careers."

Working nonstop with key stakeholders, CVUSD reduced expenses nearly 15 percent. Its priorities are clear — classroom instruction first, the student's campus experience second, district support services next and central administrative office last.

Barrstad adds, "Focusing on our classroom priorities is the right way to proceed, but no one should minimize the impact that reducing nonschool support services may have on classroom instruction."

The anti-big-government feeling in America is also attracting a new breed of candidate. John Davidson, running in the Republican primary for the 23rd Congressional District, brings his business experience to his campaign promise. "This out-of-control government spending is the first thing that must be addressed in Congress. In the business world, when you spend money you don't have, you don't have a business anymore. I'm running for Congress to stop the deficit spending and balance this budget, without new taxes, by cutting wasteful spending and focusing on our priorities."

Support administrators taking on the challenge and elect candidates who will care enough to cut budgets responsibly. We need smaller, more efficient government, not bigger government.
