Wii. Playstation. The State budget. Who says balancing the budget is boring? One group is inviting you to give it a try.
The nonprofit group, Maryland Budget and Tax Policy Institute is inviting people to play a video game that lets them try balancing a virtual state budget. They want to help people consider the state's investments with their tax dollars.
The problem? To most of us, the state budget is not exactly exciting. Students studying video game design at the University of Baltimore developed a game. The game available on the Maryland Budget and Tax Policy Institute Web site features a map that players navigate to make cuts to the budget while getting suggestions from advisers.
I think it’s a great idea. After all, Maryland faces a $2 billion budget gap. Governor O’Malley will release the budget this week and many believe there will be deep cuts due to the deficit.
Maybe this video game will give people ideas, or a better understanding of what it takes to balance a budget, or at least get people to pay attention to the state’s money. I’m looking forward to playing it. Trust me, I have low expectations, my checkbook is hard enough.
