Slide 49 of 49
Notes:
Well, I am a state employee, so I can speak for my own actions. I purchased a house, and the seller did not refuse my money that originated from taxpayers. I pay property taxes on that house. I have purchase a few pickup trucks in my life, and I never had a person refuse my money. Most of the time they were smiling as I paid them. I go to the grocery store, K-mart, WalMart, Sam’s Club, and the dry cleaners. As I spend my money, I have to pay sales taxes and excise taxes. My point here is that most of the taxpayer dollars I receive as a state employee become someone else’s income.
What if the State Legislature and the Governor cannot agree on a new budget, and they decide to furlough state employees (send them home without pay until the budget issue is resolved)? Well, I know what actions I would take. If I had someone that was mowing my grass, you can imagine what I would tell them when they showed up to mow. See you later, let it grow. I would probably turn the air conditioning down, or off, in my home. Sorry CP&L. Go out to eat? I don’t think so. Highly processed frozen food items at the grocery store? I don’t think so. I’ve got enough time to get the fall garden expanded and do some freezing. The freezer is half full and running, it might as well be full and running. Dry cleaning? Ah, it just smells a little, I can get another wear or two out of that sport coat. Some new clothes? I don’t think so. I think you get the idea that the only spending would be for essentials and bills incurred prior to the furlough. Would the Research Triangle economy feel any ripple affects from this behavior of state employees.
