The first order of business to balance the "budget", should be to rid the State government of redundant agencies/departments. This alone will save the State millions because a small population does not need the amount of "government" we currently "enjoy".  Over-regulation will continue to strangle any chance of ever balancing the budget. As we have seen, the "cost of government" is the real problem and it has continually increased, while the population has never kept up.  As long as the size of the "government" continues in it's present form or increasing forms, taxes and the PF won't solve the problem - only a band-aid at best.