MA: Mideast Budget 2012 (Debating)

[California8429]

I'd suggest to make up for some of the budget shortfalls maybe bringing the beer tax up to at least even with the wine tax, not to say it will help entirely but it seems like at least something that may help a bit without being too burdensome.

This is understandable. I'd support such an amendment most likely.

As for the budget, Governor ZuWo sent it to me to look at before I was elected and I told him what we've got here is better than nothing and works for this point in time.

You write up a budget then -_-

[California8429]

Can we get in HW's amendment? That along with the buying liquor on Sunday will help and then we can see how much more we need to cut or increase in taxes.

[California8429]

I'm wary of raising taxes but can agree on a tax hike if it's necessary (I just fear the vengeance of the beer drinkers ).
However, we should also look into spending cuts in order to balance the budget. The education, for example, is by far the biggest part of the budget. Even if it's not a popular thing to do, we might have to consider spending cuts in this area as well.

It's not a tax hike when I made up arbitrary tax rates Badger calculated RL spending of all the states together and education is really the only one we hit on the mark. Then again, this is Atlasian life and we can only assume our teacher's are the best in the world already

[California8429]

I like the sound of a lot of these proposals.  I would support a toll road system and possibly an increase in the beer tax, although I don't like tax increases.  Just as long as we're not raising taxes on businesses or business owners.

Again, we are setting a tax rate here, not actually raising existing tax rates so there's lots of potential here since there aren't any taxes that will really be cut or raised by the budget to effect the population in that area. Of course taxes will effect people, but it will not be a change in taxes.

[California8429]

Also is there any data we can get from the GM that shows the optimal marijuana tax where we will make the most revenue without users moving back to a black market and pay no taxes?

[California8429]

AYE

[California8429]

Maybe make some cuts to administration.  Anybody know a responsible way to do that?

No, because in many programs, especially more entitlements programs we are on the brink or underfunded as it is. The problem with Atlasian budgets is we don't have control of management really. We only can pass laws of how to make something more efficient. I'm sure we could try some free market ideas like Mitch Daniels did in Indiana. Instead of making a toll road, just set aside a chunk of money and whatever company shows the most efficient and effective plan wins the contract and the road is toll free and in better shape than the government building and taxing it. We might already have that in the region though, I am unsure...

[California8429]

I'm leaning towards supporting shua's idea and ask the members of the Assembly: Which specific tax expenditure(s) are you ready to sacrifice in return for a balanced budget?

Guys I'm telling as the conservative author of this bill we really can't afford to cut much from this budget at all. It already is as libertarian as you can get when compared to all the states in the region combined RL. It's easy to say "cut government" but this budget is already at that stage of enough to survive on, but enormously less expenditures than RL budgets. If you want to make this game like RL, then you have to look at the budget from the standpoint that we can't magically cut everything and expect great benefits due to incredible management and super people in every department. If you want to see the full fight, just go to the old thread where GM Badger and I endlessly debated this.

[California8429]

I won't accept any bill with education cuts.

I'm gonna have to agree with HappyWarrior on this one. It's important that regional government wisely handles matters concerning education delicately.

I second both your statement and HappyWarrior's.

While the Assembly is in control of the budget, I would like to point out that this budget already, if I remember correctly, attributes more spending to education than RL.

And yes Inks, I understand what you're saying now.

[California8429]

It would take the cutting of most tax credits though to balance the budget. Considering most tax credit values are around $500 million, scattered throughout, it is difficult to attain the balanced budget without complete eliminations.