The Committee of 100 | Meeting Notes

It’s a challenging time for J.J. Davis. As the Governor’s point person for the Budget, she is having to say “No” to a lot of people wanting funding for a lot of worthy programs.

The economic news isn’t reassuring, with AP head-lines, in just two days, as February ends, screaming, “No Bottom in Sight for Home Prices,” “Economists Worry over Return of Stagflation,” “Oil Hits Record High as Dollar Tumbles,” and “Many Economists Expect Recession in ‘08.”

Delaware may be faring better than many states, but with 36% of Delaware’s revenue coming from beyond the State, it isn’t only our local economy which impacts the State’s Budget. Clearly things are tight for the State.

There is good news. Delaware has, for the 12th consecutive time, received the highest possible credit rating for its sale of general obligation bonds, beginning February 29th. Delaware is one of just seven states with a AAA bond rating. And J.J. and her team were one of the winners of this year’s Delaware Quality Award from the Delaware Alliance for Excellence, evidence of their quality management.

Delaware has, for some time, had a well-deserved reputation for responsible management of its finances, with a constitutional limit on appropriations and full funding of a Budgetary Reserve Fund toping of the list of control measures. J.J. Davis has been a key part of enhancing that reputation. As the first Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), created in July 2005 by combining the former Office of the Budget, State Personnel Office, and units of the Department of Administrative Services, she has set her goal as nothing short of “excellence in state government.” She is one of Delaware’s bright stars.

J.J. will tell us what’s in store for Delaware’s revenue and what that will mean for the budget and for key state programs.