Opinion: Cautious use of emergency fund

A visitor accustomed to rational government would find it hard to understand why Florida is imposing more than $1-billion in midyear budget cuts on its schools and other essential services without using a single penny from its $941-million emergency fund. Perhaps the recession might have been foreseen when the budget was enacted last spring, but not the terrorism of Sept. 11. If that doesn't qualify as an emergency, what would?

In the twisted logic of today's Tallahassee, however, there is no crisis so severe or sin so great as a tax increase. The Constitution requires periodic repayment of any borrowing from the Budget Stabilization Fund. If the economy didn't improve swiftly enough, there would have to be either an earmarked tax increase or more drastic budget cuts. As far as Gov. Jeb Bush is concerned -- he said so just last week -- there is never a time to raise taxes. His libertarian bias is to diminish the government instead.

It would be unwise to use all or even the larger part of the emergency fund while the next fiscal year may pose another deficit. However, that budget is now being drawn, and the emergency fund should figure into it.

If the governor and Legislature continue to hoard the reserve like King Midas' gold or George McClellan's army, even Floridians will find it hard to understand.

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