Brian O’Shaughnessy

There are huge challenges to funding solutions to social issues. But there is much to be gained. Determining the long-term financial return – or cost — on any public investment takes work. However, the task will help us understand why our state’s operating structure cannot avoid deficits, and the benefit outweighs the required effort.

Across the nation and here in Connecticut, a nonpartisan collection of citizen groups, philanthropy and advocacy organizations are creatively looking for the truth about taxpayer investments. They want to know whether government is spending money prudently.

As we prepare for an election season with more financial talking points than usual, we should ask candidates who make promises a basic question: How? How will you both cut spending and address issues about which you purport to care? What is the process to “reallocate” money from an over-funded function to something that makes sense? […]