Budget cuts usually permanent

As former state workers, we really cringe when we see all the publicity about the budget and the resulting cries from state agencies. It makes agencies look greedy and not like team players.

One thing people don’t realize is that when money is cut, the agency never gets it back so it creates a knee-jerk reaction that appears self-serving. When we were working 10 years ago, a similar cut was being initiated in our agency (cuts aren’t a new concept), and we were discussing it. One of us suggested that if some old person would not otherwise get her nursing home bill paid, we, as an agency, could give up a workshop we were planning or another service for the interim, with the intent of housing “Aunt Mabel,” and that after the crisis was over, we could get the funds back. We mused over the concept because it would make agencies feel charitable and everyone would be happy.

So, Gov. Matt Bevin and agency heads, couldn’t we think of “Aunt Mabel” and move on?

This story was originally published March 17, 2016 at 7:52 PM with the headline "Budget cuts usually permanent."