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* Comptroller Leslie Munger is expected to announce today that the state’s bill payment delays will reach six months by the end of this December. Her office has reportedly projected that it’ll still be paying off bills incurred in Fiscal Year 2016 come December, which is midway through Fiscal Year 2017.
Munger will say, however, that she will be working with social service groups and others to make sure those who are struggling most are helped as quickly as she can.
Munger will also announce a $10 billion bill payment backlog projection for December.
*** UPDATE 1 *** From the comptroller’s press conference…
When new spending authorization is accounted for, Illinois is on track to spend $2.5 BILLION more than it brings in over the next year
— Leslie Munger (@LeslieMungerIL) July 14, 2016
We expect to end the calendar year in December with more than $10 BILLION in unpaid bills, $3 BILLION more than the same time last year
— Leslie Munger (@LeslieMungerIL) July 14, 2016
Moving forward, state payment delays will extend to six months or more #BalanceILBudget
— Leslie Munger (@LeslieMungerIL) July 14, 2016
*** UPDATE 2 *** Full press release…
Comptroller Leslie Geissler Munger on Thursday said the state’s bill backlog will grow throughout the fall and Illinois will enter the New Year with approximately $10 billion in unpaid invoices, resulting in payment delays of at least six months.
The announcement follows last month’s passage of a stopgap budget, which authorized payments that were being delayed due to the state’s year-long budget impasse.
“While the stopgap is a positive step forward, it does not address our larger fiscal challenges. When we look at the numbers we are facing, the realities are sobering,” said Munger, noting the state is on pace to spend $2.5 billion more than it takes in the next six months. “Those severe cash shortages mean my office will continue to perform triage to help those most in need and protect our most critical services.”
While payments as a rule will continue to be treated on a first-in, first-out basis, priority will be given to:
Nonprofits not covered by court orders or consent decrees that continued to provide services without an FY16 budget, including autism services, programs for the homeless, mental health services and others.
Business owners who provided goods and services to the state in good faith last year without payment.
Colleges, universities, and MAP Grant students who faced significant cuts and delays this past year.In addition, Munger will continue her policy of treating compensation for state elected officials like all other payments. As a result, lawmakers and state constitutional office holders - including Munger - will continue to stand in line for payments with human service providers, small business owners, hospitals, schools and others.
“We’re looking at $10 billion in unpaid bills and vendors waiting 6 months or more to be paid. How can I in good conscience tell hospitals, schools, small businesses, nonprofits and others to get in line - and then walk politicians to the front?” Munger said. “It remains a matter of fundamental fairness. We are all in this together and we all should wait in line.”
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 8:13 am
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Raise taxes on retirement income and there will be fewer taxpayers in Illinois.
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 8:19 am
===Munger will say, however, that she will be working with social service groups and others to make sure those who are struggling most are helped as quickly as she can.===
It is vital that Munger is seen helping those who need help immediately, I agree, but what can’t be the end framing is “Leslie Munger is choosing which group survive and which groups die”
Yikes, that is a scary line to walk.
The premise of “arbitrarily” deciding who gets what, when… I’d hope…
… a sincere and unwavering set of criteria will dictate these decisions.
Munger and her Staff is doing a solid here, I hope that “no good deed goes unpunished” isn’t the end result.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 8:25 am
So paying off that $10 billion backlog is nearly double the annual pension plan contribution. Why is nobody screaming that we have to stiff the vendors because paying them off is squeezing out other things in our budget?
Seriously, this backlog was already shameful and we’re letting it get worse?
Comment by Whatever Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 8:26 am
Oswego Willy - You forget this is Illinois. Doing a good deed has no relationship to being rewarded.
Comment by Not It Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 8:32 am
To this…
===Munger will also announce a $10 billion bill payment backlog projection for December.===
How Munger decides to approach the ever-growing(?) backlog of debt, deciding to be partisan, or resigning to be diplomatic, Munger may find herself left-handedly being both.
Maybe the “correct” answer is…
“While the backlog increased to $10 billion, my role as Comptroller is to see the bills, and pay the bills within the constraints of the Constitutional Office. That’s what I’m going to do.”
… and leave it right there, no more “talking”.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 8:34 am
Just think how bad things would be if Rauner wasn’t successful at everything he has done.
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 8:34 am
== Raise taxes on retirement income and there will be fewer taxpayers in Illinois. ==
Got proof? This is the rallying cry for all the anti-tax anti-government types.
Every time taxes go up, or the minimum wage goes up, they screech the above. And it never seems to pan out.
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 8:35 am
The backlog on state dental insurance is now 18 months, and will be 24 months in December. No problem for my family’s $6000 in claims — I just took out a home equity loan.
Comment by OldIllini Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 8:39 am
== Munger may find herself left-handedly being both. ==
You say that like it’s a bad thing. Short of limiting the power of our elected officials (which I would never advocate) how else are you going to decide which ever shrinking resources are to going to go to which ever growing need base?
Someone has to decide, else it will turn into a Darwin-like survival of the fittest free-for-all for our state’s social agencies.
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 8:40 am
I’d like to see a comparison of where Quinn, Blagojevich, and Edgar were 20 months into their first terms.
It seems to me — anecdotally, I guess, but based on reading stories here and elsewhere — that Rauner is … well, nowhere.
Comment by Formerly Known as Frenchie M Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 8:41 am
10 billion reasons why we need a tax hike.
Comment by Norseman Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 8:42 am
I doubt the $10B includes everything.
I suspect in the Rauner Administration there is great effort to keep The Unvouchered hidden.
Comment by cdog Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 8:44 am
Well I’m glad the eventual “reforms” will be worth it. s/
Look, we need to pay our contractual debts. It’s not a want. It’s a need, a must. Rauner’s insistence on “reform” before budget has doomed our state.
Comment by Honeybear Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 8:45 am
As a recent state university employee who in the final seven years of my employment was psychologically tortured by the last governor, the Senate and the House, and who received no support or encouragement from the leaders of the university, I feel very abused by the State. When I retired I wanted to get the heck out of this state, but it seemed that with the ILSC upholding the constitution that I could live out my retirement in peace. However, destroy my healthcare and start taxing my pension and I most assuredly will move on to warmer pastures.
Comment by RIJ Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 8:49 am
- Not It -
Munger finding herself in this position by virtue of her constitutional duties might be her good deed not going unpunished?
I’ll try to look at this instance on its own, lol
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 8:50 am
Old Illini, just make sure your providers refund everything to you, including the interest on the overdue debt.
Comment by RIJ Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 8:51 am
Over three years, the backlog of bills had been whittled down to $4.3 billion at the end of December 2014.
Pretty neat trick to more than double it in two years at the same time you’re whacking higher ed and knocking down contracted social services providers to 65 cents on the dollar. That ain’t easy to do.
In some circles, “economic freedom” means “planned deadbeatism.”
http://ledger.illinoiscomptroller.gov/Ledger-Temp/assets/File/CQ/CQ-FY2015-Q2.pdf
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 8:52 am
I am still paying the insurance for my wife along with a yearly payment to Medicare over 1300 dollars and the state hasn’t paid a medical claim in over a year. This is going to ruin retirees and state workers credit and eventually bankrupt them if they have a major medical issue.
Comment by Nieva Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 8:53 am
==Raise taxes on retirement income and there will be fewer taxpayers in Illinois. ==
Has this been done in other states, and if so, what happened?
Has there been any recent polling of retirees and people nearing retirement age on this in Illinois?
I’m asking because I want to know (based on something more than talking points) whether this is a doable, neglected source of real revenue or if this is a disaster in the making. I would love to see some actual data, regardless of the result it supports. Thanks in advance to anyone who can provide it.
Comment by Agricola Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 8:54 am
The right to work hometown wingman has become a tool, a referendum for the turnaround agenda you are expendable
Comment by Rabid Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 8:54 am
A $10B backlog, yet Republicans publicly attack the notion of higher taxes to pay the state’s bills. Yet they won’t say where to make $10B in cuts to the budget. Now that they have the governor’s office, the GOP should no longer be the irresponsible minority that doesn’t take any hard votes.
Comment by anon Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 8:56 am
—
… was psychologically tortured by the last governor, the Senate and the House,
—
Um, what?
Comment by Formerly Known as Frenchie M Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 8:56 am
Pardon, 8:52 was me.
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 8:57 am
Are there any projections out there for where we would be if the tax hike was extended in 2014???
Comment by Ducky LaMoore Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 8:58 am
I’m following the ” - Anonymous - ” rule - @MisterJayEm - has made.
If you’d like to discuss something, please pick a name.
The numerous ” - Anonymous - ” here on this post talking to each other is confusing to whom a response is for.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 8:59 am
“Crain’s Chicago Business says that by every measure, Illinois is worse off than it was before you and your “wingman” Governor Rauner took office. How would you rate your team’s performance?”
Comment by Juvenal Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 9:00 am
“You say you are going to work to prioritize funding for social services, but Governor Rauner has called much of that spending ‘wasteful.’ Are you ready to criticize the governor, or are you still his ‘wingman’?”
Comment by Juvenal Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 9:03 am
===I suspect in the Rauner Administration there is great effort to keep The Unvouchered hidden.===
You got that right.
Comment by Way Way Down Here Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 9:07 am
I think that being threatened for many years that my contract was going to be ignored and my retirement severely impacted, especially as I was within a decade of retiring, engendering an ongoing fear was torture. That the administration of my university was constantly negative towards employees and seemed to basically lay the blame for the money troubles at the employees’ feet was torture. Torture is the intentional infliction of severe pain, be it physical or mental. Those in power targeted State employees (and our current governor continues to target them). They knew what they were doing to their employees, and proceeded to double down on each of their attempts to beat the money out of us.
Comment by RIJ Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 9:11 am
“she will be working with social service groups and others to make sure those who are struggling most are helped as quickly as she can”
If Bruce Rauner hadn’t promised to ‘take the arrows’ for his budget choices, one might suspect that Ms. Munger has been positioned between the governor and the archers.
– MrJM
Comment by @MisterJayEm Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 9:17 am
The ILSC decision was helpful as it allowed my to move from fear to anger.
It’s all really sad. I loved my job. There was a ten year span when I adored it. But the final years (from 2009) were horrible.
Comment by RIJ Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 9:20 am
One word. UNREAL
Comment by Tom Rogers Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 9:21 am
What would JBT do? I’m missing her more and more each day this mess continues.
Comment by illini Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 9:22 am
I saw pictures of Aleppo Syria before and after war,its tragic and maybe good metaphor to describe before and after of Illinois economy over last 18 months.
Comment by independent Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 9:26 am
This is what happens when a governor proposes a deficit budget, orders the GOP to vote against appropriations, goes to court to keep employees work in’ without a budget, gets a court order to keep spendin’ as if the tax rate was the same as it was in 2014, all the while squeezin’ a beast that’s already been squeezed to death.
The aftermath, the debt…lead to the second floor. The fingerprints are his.
The governor said he would take the arrows. He said he would gladly take the heat. It is time for him to fulfill that promise, too.
He is, afterall, Winnin’.
Comment by Winnin' Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 9:29 am
Too bad we don’t have the will to seriously reform our taxes, to make the higher earners pay more, like some other states, and shift more of the burden on the wealthy and state income tax, and less on property taxes. Per a Sun-Times article yesterday, Illinois is worst in the nation on relying on property taxes for schools/education.
Comment by Grandson of Man Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 9:31 am
==Raise taxes on retirement income and there will be fewer taxpayers in Illinois. ==
Yeah those Grandparents can’t wait to move out of state away from their grandkids….
Somewhere in the 10 Billion Backlog is my $313 for my last 18 month of dental cleanings…..plus the interest. Its my small part of the huge mess…
Comment by Anotherretiree Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 9:31 am
I thought I heard that one of the big coffee chains is raising prices, because they had to raise wages. I guess I’m an outlier but I dont view my Nutmeg Duster as an indentured servant, and am fine with this practice.
The infrastructure in this state is declining. Taxes need to go up to fix it. Along with honoring state contracts.
You can bet if someone tried to stiff Bruce out of money he’d be suing.
Comment by Dave Bjanovich Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 9:41 am
Munger isn’t being specific enough on how she’ll prioritize payments, giving an opening to her opponent to state specific priorities.
Comment by Robert the Bruce Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 9:45 am
Rauner as governor has made a bad situation here in Illinois, doubly worse. Illinois needed stability after a decade of economic and political upheaval, but Rauner made those problems worse too. He did all this damage in half of one term in office.
If he is reelected, he’ll make Venezuela look like Switzerland compared to Illinois.
And he did all of this damage deliberately. He has been revealed to be to government what homeopathy is to medicine, faith-based BS. Even if his revolution suceeded politically, the fall-out has made Illinois worse off. He is like the sports doctor who always prescribes amputation for any athlete.
Quinn was incompetent. Blagojevich was criminal. It looks like Rauner is both.
Comment by VanillaMan Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 9:47 am
Anyone suggest to Wingman that whil banging gums about the bills — really not news — she announce plans to convince BigBrain to drop the plans to screw injured workers and focus on a plan to pay the bills. BTW there was a funded plan in ‘11, but the GOPies “forgot” to vote for the bond issue.
Comment by Annoin' Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 9:48 am
===Munger isn’t being specific enough on how she’ll prioritize payments, giving an opening to her opponent to state specific priorities.===
Yep.
The criteria by which those “struggling most”… yikes.
Can that be considered to arbitrary or choosing who survives and who doesn’t?
Opens the door for many questions… no good deed goes unpunished.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 9:48 am
Several months ago Munger was at our trade group talking about this very issue. Then the projected bills were $8B in her office and she was guesing about $2B more working their way through other departments. She was very clear that she only had about $100M in cash on any particular day and was nowhere close to staying even with the bills. So I can see her $8B grow to $10B by December with $2B more not to her office anytme soon. Excellent business plan.
Comment by zatoichi Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 9:49 am
I wonder if statistics are kept on how many state employee retirement checks go to people with residency outside of the state they worked for.
It would be interesting to compare various states. Snowbelt vs Sunbelt, Taxed retirement vs not, etc.
Comment by Notacop Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 9:52 am
I began my job search yesterday. I suggest many of you do the same. I have been workin’ on my house to get into sale shape. I suggest many of you do the same.
Even if Rauner loses in a few years, he’ll win. The Dems will be faced with massive cuts and tex raises. The state will start to right itself under that regime, but public opinion will go negative over the 4yrs of fairly responsible governance and they will turn to another Republican savior who will rinse and repeat.
God this blog is depressin’
Comment by Dr X Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 9:53 am
===Munger isn’t being specific enough on how she’ll prioritize payments===
We may see more details during her event today.
I got the leak because I’ve been writing about this topic for subscribers. Subscribers knew, for instance, that the backlog would likely be around $10 billion.
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 9:54 am
==public opinion will go negative==
Seriously? Today we’re in positive territory?
Comment by AnonymousOne Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 9:59 am
Even if Rauner dropped his entire agenda, he would still be in a political quandary. Recommend a huge income tax increase and take the heat from Democrats all the way to 2018. Cut some things and take the heat from Democrats all the way to 2018.
I don’t feel sorry for him. He wanted the job.
But there is not just one sinner in the Illinois political establishment.
Comment by Cassandra Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 10:06 am
Great comment Cassandra
Comment by Honeybear Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 10:15 am
Agricola - Not exactly on the retirement tax migration rate but here is a chart on the migration rates based on income level and that may be a similar outcome with regard to retirement. “Those making $10,000 per year have the highest migration rate … As income climb, the migration rates fall steadily…”
Bottom line- the well off tend to be more settled. Lower income retirees may be more inclined to migrate than higher income retirees.
http://www.citylab.com/politics/2016/06/do-taxes-really-cause-the-rich-to-move/487835/
Comment by Y2D Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 10:18 am
Munger and Judy before her have always been good about taking calls from nonprofits that hit a critical stage and working to get them paid. I get the desire for laying out specific criteria for how you prioritize. The reality is they do need flexibility to respond. It is a hard balancing act.
Comment by Montrose Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 10:21 am
===I get the desire for laying out specific criteria for how you prioritize. The reality is they do need flexibility to respond. It is a hard balancing act.===
This. Well said.
It’s unenviable. Munger, new to state government and close to the governor will face greater scrutiny of the plan has too much flexibility, or…
… the plan allows for flexibility under very rigid and specific criteria those groups in most need still feel won’t help their dire straits.
It’s wading into the deep end of a pool… with sharks… and a life preserver… losing air.
I’ll be very interested how Munger rolls this out.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 10:30 am
–Quinn was incompetent. Blagojevich was criminal. It looks like Rauner is both.–
No doubt with Rauner we are seeing the worst qualities of past govs and none or very little of the best but I’m not ready to call him criminal (although what he is doing to social providers borders on it). The most charitable conclusion is that he truly believes that less union power and trickle down economics will grow the state out of it’s problems, but his own numbers don’t show it, the least charitable conclusion is that he is looking out only for the 1%. Middle of the road - weakening unions takes money away from the dems, position yourself to blame the dems for the tax increase and besides more mid to low wage jobs are better than nothing anyway so what’s not to like.
Comment by sonny chiss Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 10:40 am
Question for the legal scholars in the room:
The state is on track to have spent $10MM more than it can pay for. Doesn’t this violate section 9 of the constitution?
Seems like a voucher would constitute other evidence of indebteness which “are
required to be repaid, directly or indirectly, from tax revenue and which are incurred by the State, any department, authority, public corporation or quasi-public corporation of
the State, any State college or university, or any other public agency created by the State”
If it does violate Section 9, why hasn’t it been enjoined by the courts?
Comment by Fred Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 11:16 am
=== The state is on track to have spent $10MM more than it can pay for. Doesn’t this violate section 9 of the constitution? ===
Not a legal scholar, Fred but think this through. Even if you found a court to rule that it does, do you think the court would:
- invalidate that debt;
- jail Rauner and the GA; or
- order a tax hike.
No, nothing is going to happen. We’ve been backlogged for years.
This is one of those meaningless debates you do when you’re at a bar with buds. Enjoy tonight.
Comment by Norseman Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 11:33 am
The downside, Willy, is that by definition everyone that Munger chooses not to pay today, this week, or this month is a low priority.
That, in and of itself, isn’t a problem.
But Munger’s office spent over $300,000 itself on travel in FY 2016, while many nonprofit organizations are still waiting to get paid.
And that is a problem.
She put her own travel budget ahead of nonprofits, according to her own website.
Comment by Juvenal Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 12:17 pm
- Juvenal -
Your point is a solid one, but Mendoza’s Crew is barely capable of making hay on obvious stuff, I will be shocked, frankly, if they have the skill set(s) to make a case outside “Rauner’s Wingman”
Munger does things like today, literally buries Mendoza in Ads… swamps her… tough road for Mendoza.
Munger did “enough” today. I’ll leave it there.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 12:24 pm
Just another Republican who says “balance the budget” but won’t say how. Not helpful.
Governor Bruce Rauner and the Republicans he controls.
Comment by siriusly Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 12:24 pm
- Norseman-
I’m am interested in the answer. The ILSC has said with respect to pensions, the constitution means what it says.
Curious whether the courts have looked at this?
Seems to me that one of the reasons we are stuck in this slow motion train wreck is that the state is able to fund the operating deficit by borrowing in the form of delayed payments.
Comment by Fred Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 1:05 pm
Shocking news if you haven’t been paying attention for the last 10 years or so
Comment by steve schnorf Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 1:17 pm
Seems Munger is handling this pretty well, whether it’s her and her staff or the Gov’s people. She’s an incumbent, and she’s making herself look competent and up to the job heading into the election. Agree with the earlier post suggesting she say she’s going to work within the constitutional restrictions and powers of her office to best handle agencies in various stages of emergency.
As for the Governor being “criminal,” take a breath. Unless you’re willing to say that every single legislator that voted for the last several state budgets (clearly unbalanced) is also criminal, tone down the vitriol. While many commenters here are close observers at the least and more often likely intimately involved in the process of governing, most Illinoisans are not, and I think there is a definite disconnect. They have witnessed over a decade of unbalanced budgets, rising debt, a ticking pension time bomb and bigger budgets year after year anyway in spite of billions in deficits. Similar to the fedup Sanders and Trump voters and the Brexit movement in the UK, many in Illinois are just so sick of watching this circus they really don’t care if the governor throws a virtual grenade into the works. Isn’t that what he said he would do anyway?
The comment a couple of days ago about the “fundamental disagreement” between Rauner and Madigan was spot on. It’s basic political ideology that is the hangup on both sides, and that they both probably sincerely believe what they’re saying makes for a nearly impossible process. So far, thought, it doesn’t seem Madigan has been forced to concede a Republican actually won the election for Governor.
Comment by LessAnon? Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 1:34 pm
She took over an office that was run well. To her credit, she’s done nothing to prevent that from continuing. And she’s shown some grace in the process. She’s exceeding a lot of people’s expectations. Good for her.
Comment by A guy Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 1:41 pm
===So far, thought, it doesn’t seem Madigan has been forced to concede a Republican actually won the election for Governor.===
- LessAnon? -
So after all the pretty words and “thoughtful” analysts, it’s just “Because… Madigan”?
Is that you Ron Sandack, lol.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 1:42 pm
===She took over an office that was run well.===
Judy Baar Topinka didn’t run the office well?
Hmm…
That’s the road you want to go?
Seriously?
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 1:44 pm
=== She took over an office that was run well. To her credit, she’s done nothing to prevent that from continuing. ===
“I have come to bury Munger, not to praise her.”
Comment by Juvenal Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 1:47 pm
Munger’s tweet:
“When new spending authorization is accounted for, Illinois is on track to spend $2.5 BILLION more than it brings in over the next year”
Her press release:
“the state is on pace to spend $2.5 billion more than it takes in the next six months”
Which is it? The full fiscal year or just the first half? Presumably the press release trumps the tweet.
The Civic Fed estimated the deficit at $5.5 billion - through the entirety of the fiscal year.
Interesting that Munger found a way (presuming she’s referring only to the first half of the year) to produce a smaller figure.
Comment by Louis Capricious Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 1:49 pm
- Juvenal -
Sounded to me - A Guy - was taking Judy Baar Topinka to task.
===She took over an office that was run well.===
Who did Munger take over for?
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 1:53 pm
I’m of the opinion that only exceptional state business should not be conducted on Skype/videoconferencing and the like. Keeping state employees out of planes and/or off the road helps the environment too.
But I seem to be in the minority on that issue. In the meantime, the $300,000 travel budget number tossed out above, without context, is meaningless. How much do other state agencies pay in travel per capita. What are the procedures differentiating essential from non-essential travel. And so on. Without that information,
it’s just a cheap shot.
Comment by Cassandra Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 1:54 pm
Oops, sincere apologies.
Read too quickly, - A Guy -, my bad
I should have read better, I was wrong, I’m sorry.
OW
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 1:59 pm
OW. Yikes dude. It’s not like we have tons in common here. But, I do think we both loved JBT! She ran a great office. Leslie has been a steward of that great tradition.
No worries. Apology accepted. Heck, I might frame it. lol
Comment by A guy Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 2:03 pm
-Steve Schnorf -
Not shocking
My question is if this has been reviewed by the courts?
I’m just a curious guy, I’m really not trying to grind some axe.
Comment by Fred Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 2:06 pm
siriusly @ 12:24
She is outpacing Carl Sagan in her use of BILLIONS, but the word “revenue” is nowhere to be found.
Comment by Jocko Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 2:11 pm
To Anonymous at 8:19 a.m. and all the other folks who believe taxes ruin economies:
California raised taxes and is doing just fine.
Minnesota raised taxes and is doing just fine.
Kansas drastically cut taxes and . . . well, go do a web search on “kansas budget” or “kansas state finances” and see what comes up.
Comment by jdcolombo Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 2:39 pm
Actually, taking out a home equity loan isn’t a bad idea as long as you get the 9% interest. Pay the provider the negotiated insurance rate and have provider agree to pay you the voucher 2 years down the road. I’ll take 9% any day.
Comment by No Raise Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 2:44 pm
@Y2D - thanks for the facts, even information on general trends is helpful!
Comment by Agricola Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 4:37 pm