The state has been through a bruising year, with expenses outpacing revenues at an alarming clip in this crippled economy and a protracted battle between the state and employees over how much labor costs should be trimmed to help close the gap.

At last, unions for the state teachers and its government workers have come to terms with the dim prospects for rapid economic improvement. They have witnessed several successive tax revenue reports showing less money coming in than the state expected.

It took far too long for negotiating teams to settle this, and two more unions — United Public Workers and the University of Hawaii Professional Assembly — remain a long way from any accord with the state.

Both sides should move aggressively toward a settlement, learning a lesson from the experience of the Hawaii State Teachers Association and the Hawaii Government Employees Association. The longer the standoff persisted, the wider the budget gap grew as the higher labor expenditures continued — creating less leeway to offer a better contract.

A quicker settlement might have enabled a better deal in the case of HSTA and HGEA, and there's no basis for believing a rosier outcome awaits from binding arbitration or any further delays.

The governor has said there is still not enough money to balance this year's budget, and any trickle-down from the beginnings economic recovery won't be landing in tax coffers any time soon.

The only thing this collective bargaining tapdance will accomplish is to kick the can farther down the road. Delayed settlements will add to the pressure elected leaders will face in balancing budgets this year and the next. And lawmakers need to move on.

This is an election year, one in which several offices are up for grabs. Unions and other special interest groups are going to be lobbying fast and furious among politicians vying for their special interests. Those politicians need to keep the taxpayers' interest top of mind, instead.

And the taxpayers' interest is best met by addressing the economic doldrums that have pushed many into joblessness, leaving many in need of the state's assistance. The focus of the Lingle administration and the Legislature must be on maintaining basic services — education, health and public safety being the core concerns.

Beyond filling immediate needs, state government needs to keep Hawaii on course toward its preferred future. The stimulus package has included allotments for projects aimed at strengthening the capacity for economic growth, including full funding for the state's renewable energy development program, a total of $25 million. Lawmakers must give their attention to the oversight such projects deserve, to make sure every dollar is spent to the best effect.

Elected leaders have their hands full managing tax dollars efficiently and making the difficult decisions on funding the state's priorities. Labor contracts for Hawaii's public employees are for the negotiating teams to resolve —and they need to resolve them now.