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Higher levels of government should provide adequate resources when mandating functions to lower levels of government.

Services should be implemented and operated by the level of government that can most appropriately and efficiently deliver them.

When economic conditions permit, states should accumulate budget reserves adequate to maintain services during recessions.

Deficit-reduction efforts should avoid cuts in programs that serve low- and moderate-income populations.

Passing responsibilities down to lower levels of government should be undertaken primarily to place services closer to the people being served and to maximize administrative

Tax and spending decisions should be the purview of the legislative branch.

Legislators should not adopt supermajority voting requirements for budgetary or tax matters.

Governments should not limit their ability to address future economic and political changes and the need for investments.

Efforts to balance the budget or address shortfalls should remain the purview of the legislative branch.

Policymakers should provide for transparency and honesty in the budget process.