Opinion/Guest column for the Worcester Telegram & Gazette
As economic warning signs flash in Washington, D.C., and Beacon Hill, it’s becoming increasingly clear that Massachusetts is headed for serious fiscal challenges. Over the next year, the commonwealth is likely to face significant revenue shortfalls and midyear 9C budget cuts, requiring state and local leaders to make difficult decisions to maintain core services and long-term competitiveness.
Unlike the sudden 2008 economic crisis sparked by the collapse of Lehman Brothers and leading to the Great Recession, this fiscal downturn is not a surprise. We can see it coming, and we have a chance to prepare.
One of the most immediate and necessary steps we can take to strengthen the efficiency and responsiveness of state government and its ability to respond to this coming crisis is to bring state employees back to the office immediately.