Get Ready to Be Amazed

In Lancaster County, PA, local government officials have done the inconceivable—they’ve given up their raises. Strasburg Borough’s ten employees including police, public works, and administrative assistants, agreed to forgo their 2011 pay and benefit raises.

Of course, the borough will still have to face a 2011 shortfall of about $34,675. The total budget is up 3.4% from last year.

Strasburg employees have made an admirable sacrifice, but efforts to rein in state and local spending cannot stop there. What governments really need are spending limits to ensure that politicians are not spending beyond taxpayer means.