State legislators have the right idea on balancing the Minnesota’s books through 2003.

Wednesday, March 13, 2002

State legislators have the right idea on balancing the Minnesota’s books through 2003.

Along those lines, their thinking is on target on tapping the anti-tobacco endowment fund. We just want to make sure not too much money is taken away.

Taking money from this fund is the right move. And here’s why.

Using a portion of the tobacco settlement provides a short-term solution – without raising taxes.

If you think that proposition is unflattering, here’s another one. Some legislators think delaying payments to local schools and counties is a feasible option.

Oh really?

So does that mean these same schools and counties should continue to face shaky ground when planning and executing their budgets? How are city administrators and school board members supposed to know how much (if any) to cut in services, salaries and projects?

Plain and simple, that’s not fair.

But this short-term fix in taking money from the tobacco fund seems like the right solution. It keeps the unwelcome prospects of higher taxes and decreased local services on the backburner.

This free money isn’t going to be here forever. However, spending some it to solve the state’s budgets woes is a viable alternative to other unattractive options.