Boy, you offer up specifics (instead of platitudes) regarding real spending cuts, and the spending interests’ noise machine cranks up big time.

Local officials fear Andrzejewski tax plan

Hinsdale businessman Adam Andrzejewski said if elected governor he would reduce or eliminate “revenue sharing to local municipalities,” which could include the state withholding local government’s portion of the state’s income tax. The state currently shares one-tenth of income tax revenue with local governments, which totaled nearly $1.2 billion in fiscal year 2009.

“If you look at it and peel back the layers on it, that would be the single largest property tax increase in the state’s history. You’re going to push the state’s problems on municipalities and local taxpayers,” said Mark Fowler, executive director Northwest Municipal Conference, which represents area governments. “This isn’t money that creates a slush fund for municipalities.”

Leaving aside the fact that “slush fund” is a good word for Illinois’ state and local finances, Mr. Fowler’s words expose the mindset of those in the “Government/Association complex.” Here, Mr. Fowler, like many with a pro-government mindset, shows that he can’t even conceive of spending cuts. Like the pundits in Springfield, he probably wants all of us to think that “there is no place left to cut.” He merely assumes a property tax increase is the answer.

Mr. Fowler either ignores, or doesn’t know, that Adam Andrzejewski is running on hard property tax caps as well.

Here is the truth, everyone. You have 6 insider candidates offering platitudes, while one outsider is proposing meaningful spending cuts. Ending municipal revenue sharing isn’t an easy thing to propose, but Adam put it on the table as a way to prevent tax increases that would send more businesses out of Illinois.

In this specific case, Andrzejewski is trying to balance the budget, and municipalities, many of which have ramped up spending and taxes over the last 10-20 years, are crying foul at the prospect of having to tighten belts. These are tough times, but the government’s spending culture simply assumes that the taxpayers should foot every bill. That isn’t right, and it isn’t sustainable.

State and Local Governments have had a 15-25 year run up on spending increases. The gravy train is over. It is time for spending cuts.