Virginia will end her fiscal year $300 million short. As the country has entered the worst economic period since the 1970s Virginians can show for it nothing but red. Our budget has more than doubled in the last 10 years, from 17 billion to over 30 billion. This is not awful, considering we are growing larger by the day the budget should be representative of the growth. However, a $300 million shortfall is unacceptable. The answers are never simple, but one thing is for sure, so long as spending is high, it will cost the taxpayers.

In 2002, then Gov. Douglas Wilder headed a commission on a cost cutting crusade, and one of many fine points made was that the Commonwealth of Virginia (taxpayers) could realize a saving of over $700 million a fiscal year by disbanding the Department of Alcohol Beverage Control without sacrificing any legal authority. This is quite a chunk of change that is wasted, especially considering the ABC was budgeted nearly $500 million.

The ABC example is just that and example. But we can count on something, the next governor be it a democrat or republican will need to things, creativity and perseverance. These are traits that Virginia will need to continue to be one of the wealthiest and business friendly states in the Union.