In the current economy, managing a state budget is hard. With the estimated budget deficit expected to be $1.1 billion through June 2011, many changes and cuts need to be made.

Some people believe that priorities need to be set. Education is a perfect example of an issue where there is pressure for more financial support. The loss of smaller programs that would be cut to provide that support could be more destructive than believed.

An example is the Honolulu Symphony. Though the symphony is not funded largely by the state, it is an example of a program that faces many cuts. The result of the cuts is that the state is very close to losing the symphony for good.

Before the state decides to slash and burn programs to make room for others, research into the benefits and the consequences of the cutbacks need to be accounted for. If the state moves too fast in making decisions, programs that have impacts small and large may be lost forever with consequences to the state and its people.