California’s ongoing fiscal crisis has attracted national attention, but a study warns that nine other states are barreling toward similar economic disaster. A report released today by the Pew Center on the States said Arizona, Florida, Illinois, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island and Wisconsin also are at risk of fiscal calamity. That could mean higher taxes, more layoffs of government employees, increasingly crowded classrooms and fewer services in states that account for more than one-third of America’s population and economic output, according to the report.
Most of the states face rising unemployment and high home foreclosure rates, and their revenues have dropped by double-digit percentages.
The analysis urges lawmakers and governors to take quick action to prevent economic catastrophe.
The Pew Center also includes a grade from its Government Performance Project on how well each state manages its money. New Jersey received a C-. California received a D+.
The center gave the United States government a B-. AP.
There’s a lot that we can do to prevent us from going the direction of california. A . Cut out the “double dipping” anyone who has had two govt jobs and then retires get two salaries for life cut that out effective immediatly . B. cut out the lifetime pensions for govt workers . We simply cannot afford them . C combine districts . there is way too much waste and to many BOE’s and other bodies in all of these small towns . D let’s outsource a lot of these govt jobs ex if we would outsource the BOe here in Lakewood we would save lots of money we pay out in benefits $$. plus we would save 30k that we pay chemed a month . E amnesty- let’s look at unpaid old tax records give amnesty for anyone who owes without fines. F auction off confiscated or govt property G lower tax rate to new companies who relocate here . H. UNIONS UNIONS UNIONS I. meet with local business people to see what the state can do to boost business J Put up Billboards along gs parkway K dig for OIL ( all our problems would go away with that one) L Do away with the many beauroucratic (spell ck) green laws that make life so difficult here in NJ M release and export any misdemenor jail inmates who did small nonviolent crimes, ship em back where they came from they are way too costly . N . listen to the people , they really have creative input . I think ideas would surely stimulate our economy and give us our money back so we can spend it P.S. this one would save money, but u for sure won’t do it , ship back all the illegals . if they wanna become legal let em do it the right way .