$12 billion dollars is a lot of money especially when it has to be cut from a state budget. With little room for tax increases New York State must find other places in which to “trim the fat”, but 12 billion won’t just be fat careful thought must be taken to decide where and how to cut state funds.

After reviewing the state’s budget divisions I have come to the conclusion that the areas that we can afford to cut and manage more efficiently would have to be Education, transportation and Medicaid. Education in New York is the largest single part of the budget and cuts made within the school system to make things work will be beneficial. For example my highschool is in the middle of construction on a $26 million addition to the high school that gets some of its funding from the state. This addition however luxurious was by no means a necessity and something that would save the state money. For the transportation system a more efficient and consolidated transportation system could make finding 12 billion dollars much easier. Also, everyday I pass road construction on the bus ride back to my home school and find it hard to believe that this is going on at this time. In the beginning of the year there was no construction and the road was fine, a few bumps here and there but overall it was driveable road, so there is no excuse for not putting off the road work until after the state has a surplus and can afford to fund construction. The third and final area of cuts is Medicaid. Don’t get me wrong I’m all for helping those who can’t afford health care, but the state should increase the co-pay for those who could afford to pay and also decrease the state stipend given to the medical workers who see Medicaid patients. 

And that is how you squeeze $12 billion out of a the damp rag that is New York State’s budget.