Stateline.org is a good source for news about state policy questions. But sometimes it's also a reminder of why public officials need to remember what "public service" is about.

Take the headline of today's lead story about economic projections: States' Wallets Get Thinner.

Perhaps that is the case, but I suspect for most people the more relevant concern is "MY wallet is getting thinner."

Indeed, in any economic downturn--and I'm not convinced we are in one, housing troubles aside--the point is that there's widespread pain.

And that should apply to public managers as much as anyone else, if not more so.

When judged on the basis of reserves, the party is over: "After three years of bulging coffers, state balances collectively are projected to fall to $47 billion in this fiscal year, compared to nearly $63 billion the year before and a record $69 billion in fiscal 2006."

How about spending?

"State spending is budgeted to grow a modest 4.7 percent in fiscal 2008. That’s far below the 9.3 percent growth states saw in fiscal 2007 and even lower than the 30-year average of 6.4 percent."

A "modest" growth of 4.7 percent? That's greater than projected increases in private sector wages, from what I recall hearing on an early-morning news broadcast. And a 9.3 percent growth for FY '07 is nothing less than governments gone wild.

Of course now there's going to be hell to pay as states seek to adjust. The higher you climb, the farther you fall.