[January 06, 2009] EDITORIAL: State budget crisis needs revenue-generating fixes: THE ISSUE: State has big shortfall. Tweet (Sun Sentinel, Fort Lauderdale, FL Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Jan. 6--Apparently, all options aren't on the table, and disappointingly so. As state lawmakers begin a special session to reconcile a gaping $2.3 billion budget gap, the consensus is that the only way to reconcile the shortfall is to continue business as usual, meaning cutting programs and raiding trust funds. Lawmakers want more time to study revenue-raising proposals for consideration during the regular session. "Cramming" may be the more operative word. The need to raise new revenue is imperative. There is no doubt that spending cuts are in order. The revenue sources Tallahassee relies on, whether it's sales tax collections, corporate income taxes, documentary stamps or lottery receipts, are all down. Blame that on slumping state, national and global economies that have hit the state government hard. Suddenly, ideas like raising taxes on cigarettes and curtailing sales tax exemptions seemed like palatable proposals. Even the leadership in the Republican majority showed signs of enlightenment early on when they began talking about the possibility of collecting taxes on Internet sales and re-negotiating the stalled gaming compact with the Seminole Tribe. All that, though, is off the table during this month's special session. Instead, the focus is on reducing ongoing expenses, an idea that has a cutting-one's-nose-to-spite-your-face quality to it. Shortchanging Florida's needs now will prove costly in the long run. State leaders may not have the cut-expenses-only luxury for long. Balancing a $2.3 billion shortfall on the backs of program cuts, trust fund raids and borrowing is one thing. Tackling the almost $6 billion gap expected for next year's budget is another thing. The need for cuts shouldn't foreclose on the revenue options. The sooner state lawmakers recognize fair revenue-generating sources are a viable option, the sooner they'll be able to steer the state through its budget crisis. BOTTOM LINE: Raising revenue a must. To see more of the Sun Sentinel or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.sun-sentinel.com/. Copyright (c) 2009, Sun Sentinel, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email [email protected], call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]