(Syndicated to Kansas newspapers Aug. 10, 2015)
The Legislature is within weeks of approving a contract for up to $3 million with some probably out-of-state consulting firm to take a look at how we do government here and suggest ways to do it more economically, or even decide whether the state is doing stuff that it really doesn’t need to do.
That’s the “fresh eyes” concept that a nearly broke state approved with surprisingly little debate last legislative session and the governor signed into law.
It’s to bring in a consultant to see what the state does and whether it is doing it in the most efficient, economical way. Sounds good, of course. Less spending, fewer taxes: That’s what lawmakers are looking for as 2012’s massive income tax cuts/eliminations effects are finally becoming troublesome. The surpluses in the budget that allowed some to say “just a little more time for these tax cuts to spur the economy, and by the way increase tax revenues” are gone.
So far those cuts haven’t dramatically boosted the state’s economy and budget, and something has to be done.