What Budget "Surplus?"

Pity the poor newspaper writer who has to explain state budgeting. Every term is loaded: some authors happily reprint extravagant claims of "budget surpluses" that really aren't. Without an accounting degree, it's hard to know how to evaluate lawmakers' claims that there's extra money floating around-- or that there isn't. In the State newspaper, the always-excellent Cindi Ross Scoppe explains the often-tricky math behind Governor Sanford's surplus politics. If you want to understand whether Governor Sanford's budget proposal is fiscally sound, this is a great place to start. Read it here.