A Columbia news, views & reviews reader emailed the governor’s proposed 2011-2012 budget to us and suggested we post it. Because it is a really large file (taking up more file space than we want to allocate) we, instead, have opted to include the link to the Governor’s Budget Office where you can look at (and download if you like) the proposed budget.

In the abbreviated “Budget in Brief” file, it states, “This budget refocuses the investment of taxpayer dollars in the core functions of government, which will result in private-sector job creation and economic opportunities. Those core functions of government include: supporting free enterprise in the commonwealth, providing educational opportunities for our youth, protecting public safety, and providing a helping hand to those most in need and moving people toward self-sufficiency. ”

Entities at all levels (governments, businesses, non-profits and families) reckon with the identical issues when it comes to budgets. They look for a plan and direction that practices fiscal prudence; incoming revenues ought to exceed or match anticipated expenses. We can only spend what we got, says the governor.

Criticism will continue from lots of corners because this budget imposes serious cuts in several arenas, including social services, public safety and education. The governor’s budget will get lots of review as it begins the process of legislative scrutiny and review. The budget proposal on the table is not the one we will see at the end of the process.

One certainty will be that as federal dollars to state treasuries are cut, the states will cut revenue streams to local governments and services providers, too. (NOTE: President Obama’s 2012 budget, for example, contains significant cuts in spending for the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) and the United States Fire Administration.) These federal spending cuts become local fire department revenue losses. Public safety agencies will have to manage these fund reductions by reducing their resources or capabilities; finding new revenue streams and/or working smarter with what they have.

Reality is reality; we are going to have to deal with less. We are going to have to work with what we got. Like the governor and the proposed budget or not, the governor hit the nail on the head with these words, “This budget unleashes the potential for Pennsylvania innovation.”

We agree, in theory, with that position. Adversity does provide the opportunity for citizens in communities to pull together, amass resources, look for better ways to improve processes and get better! It is going to be different, for sure … but it is going to be better for everyone.