A Lack of Budget Priorities

Much is being written about the bridge collapse in Minneapolis and our nation's infrastructure failings. Of course here in North Carolina attention is now being focused on the dangerous condition of bridges in this state. Like the "shocking" revelation that in fact one out three North Carolina high school students drop out, attention is now being called to the "shocking" fact that the Federal Highway Administration rated 2,256 bridges here as "functionally obsolete". That's 28 percent of all of our bridges. North Carolina ranks 11th in the nation in substandard bridges.

Having just finished a legislative session that saw state spending rise by 10 percent to over $20 billion and the ebuliant praise of the budget by the Governor and democratic leaders, one wonders what they have to say now about the ever growing infrastructure needs faced by our state. While we all recognize the many challenges in putting together a budget, we also must recognize that the constant decision to raise taxes and create bonded indebtedness can only be pushed so far. Many would say we are already pushing or exceeding the limits.

So what's the solution? I would submit it is the very basic principle that I heard Jim Martin talk so much about during his races for Governor and during his 8 years in office. It's all about setting priorities. Government, particularly the General Assembly has to decide what the most important functions and responsibilities of government are and how much is needed to adequately fund them. Eventually the tax revenue is used up and that's when, at the bottom of your priority list, you decide whether more revenue is needed. It's all about fiscal discipline and not trying to put the proverbial chicken in every pot. How important is it really to keep giving away hundreds of millions even billions of dollars in revenue in the form of corporate incentives while bridges and roads fall into disrepair and schools cannot adequatley educate our children?

As Tom Crosby, spokesman for the Charlotte-based motor club AAA of the Carolinas said, "It's absolutely a funding issue. The problem is the Legislature continues to ignore the necessary maintenance and repair." That's right folks, it's all about priorities and this state needs new leadership to do a better job setting them.