The lead editorial in today’s Baltimore Sun discusses the budget cuts approved by the board of public works yesterday. Given that the approved cuts amount to less than 1.5 percent of general fund spending, the Sun calls for more cuts as a part of the solution to the $1.5 billion structural deficit.

“If Mr. O’Malley and lawmakers want to raise taxes significantly next year, they’d better demonstrate a greater seriousness about spending less,” the editorial says.

The Sun suggests some additional cuts, including:

• Eliminating the legislative scholarship program
• Cutting aid to local governments
• Scaling back the state employee retirement health plan
• Freezing state salaries for one year

Read the full editorial here.

The Maryland Chamber continues to advocate additional cuts and the inclusion of slots legislation as a part of whatever package the Governor and legislators put together to deal with the deficit.