Lincoln Journal Star on April 21: Local View: Budget restraint is essential, so is proper public investment
With the legislative session now complete, the state’s political discussion is turning toward the upcoming elections as well as the next session. A repeated theme of this conversation is holding down the growth of state government.
Limiting budget growth is responsible and laudable. Tax dollars should never be wasted. But limiting budget growth at the expense of adequate public investments can lead to dire costs that far outweigh the financial price of properly investing in vital public services.
In the past decade, Nebraska has seen first-hand the consequences that result when the state does not prioritize smart investments in areas such as K-12 education, corrections, health and human services, natural resources and transportation infrastructure.