Gubernatorial Candidate Munsterman Calls For New Business Model for State Govt

From today’s mailbox:

In light of the State of South Dakota starting budget hearings while facing a greater budget deficit than originally anticipated, GOP gubernatorial candidate Scott Munsterman is calling for the state to change from “business as usual” practices, and for the state to live realistically within its means.

“Timing is everything, and with the state departments finishing up their individual budgets to be presented to Governor Rounds, now is the time for those budgets to show a deep reflection of our current reality: ongoing revenue shortfalls for South Dakota,” Munsterman said.  “South Dakota is bearing more costs from the effects of rising unemployment, declining sales tax revenue and faces moreunfunded mandates from Washington in the form of reductions in Medicaid funding.”

Scott Munsterman is challenging Governor Rounds and the South Dakota Legislature to begin closing the gap on the structural deficit of the state.  “It is time we brought our budget back to zero and prioritize the role of state government. Each state department must step back and reassess their role, their mission and prioritize their functions. We must set a realistic price for government and alter the size of state government based upon what we can afford.”

Munsterman believes the revenue projections used the past seven years have perpetuated the state’s tattered history of structural deficits and is “simply unacceptable.”  Munsterman asserts, “the state’s taxpayers are suffering in a period of recession and state government is not making the kind of sacrifices that its citizens have been making for some time. These times call for hard decisions, and the first decision is to determine a realistic projection of revenue for the new budget.”

Munsterman offered – “To start moving South Dakota in the right direction, as Governor, I would use actual revenue numbers from 2005, a 8.75% reduction in the FY 2010 budget (approximately $142,847,888), and balance our budget without the use of reserves, without the use of any one-time money from the federal government and without raising fee or taxes on the people of South Dakota.”

“The taxpayers of South Dakota deserve a government that tightens its belt the same way they have to tighten theirs. That’s the bottom line.”

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