Government spending must be curbed

William G. Flangas, Las Vegas

Thursday, Sept. 18, 2008 | 2:04 a.m.

The outcry and consternation over the alleged shortfall of adequate finances to meet our city, county and state obligations grow louder by the day.

Permit me to make some observations:

• Government entities got used to expanded budgets and overstaffing during the good years and generally failed to take heed of potential lean years.

• Exorbitant and unearned salaries and benefits generate scorn and disrespect and fuel distrust of public officials.

• The public does not trust many segments of government and has little respect for imprudent spending of public money.

• Good public managers are like junkyard dogs when it comes to accountability to prevent waste, fraud and corruption.

• It is well past time to thoroughly evaluate, thin out and tame the bulging bureaucracy that stifles our government at all levels.

I have been following the dialogue and debate over our financial woes for several months and have yet to hear of a detailed internal evaluation that has with due diligence squeezed out the fat in the organization before wailing for more money.

It is my humble opinion that the public will support increased funding — even if it requires a tax increase — if it is thoroughly convinced that the fat has been both verifiably and completely squeezed out.