January 13th, 2009

At last night’s budget forum in Cambria County, House Appropriations Chairman Dwight Evans explained that since the state’s Rainy Day fund will run dry next year, citizens have to decide what they expect from their state government, reports the Tribune-Democrat.

“‘I’m trying to talk about collective responsibility,” Evans told the crowd of 80 school, health, business and municipal leaders along with a smattering of students.”

Ideas for the state to save money attendees - including a borough manager, a state Rep. and a union leader - included school consolidations; eliminating tedious PennDot and environmental regulations; sending small-time drug offenders to drug treatment instead of a more expensive mandatory prison term; a revised tax system; and “consumer development” to put money back into the faltering state economy.

Today’s two public forums will be held in Williamsport and Scranton.