A telling measure of the state’s difficult budget deliberations won’t be the fiscal or social impact of the many cuts, but how the memories of this difficult battle resonate with lawmakers.

Late Monday, Gov. John Baldacci signed the budget, closing a $190 million shortfall by avoiding a dangerous duo: raising taxes or dipping into rainy day funds. The Legislature and governor made the best of a bad situation – preserving today, without mortgaging tomorrow. It reflects, in the words of Sen. Peggy Rotundo, “what … the people of Maine need and want from us now.”

In the end, after months of worship before it, lawmakers sacrificed the altar of bipartisanship to get the budget done. The final votes tell the tale: a straight party-line in the Senate,18-17, and almost the same in the House, 84-55.

The partisan scars will heal, but we hope the sensation lingers.

Maine’s shortfall was manageable – if $190 million can be “manageable” – compared to experiences in other states. State finances may worsen, however, before they get better – if this downturn is really the country’s bleakest crisis since the Great Depression, further budget crunches loom if revenues fall.

Lawmakers cannot believe concern about Maine’s finances ends with closing of the budget gap. Nor should debate about what Maine can and cannot support become quiet. Some smart fiscal questions still need answers.

Perhaps the biggest was posed by Rep. Henry Joy. His LD 2272 queries whether the state can really afford 55 percent of local education costs, as mandated by voters. Strong evidence suggests it cannot.

Many decry the inflexibility 55 percent puts onto state budgeting, and accountings haven’t seen districts pass along this funding for property tax relief as the law intended. From 2005 to 2009, education accounted for 65 percent of $912 million in new state spending, a liability that can only increase, even if revenues dip.

Joy’s bill is just one example of the concerns that emerged in the examination about Maine’s fiscal footing, debate that has high value going forward. Financial circumstances that caused this shortfall are not soon improving.

There’s an election this year as well. Candidates will meet voters balancing their personal finances against spiraling costs, such as food and fuel. As an electorate, Mainers are reducing their spending in 2008, as their representatives have just finished doing for the state.

Tightening budgets should still be uppermost on voter minds in November, because it reflects their day-to-day reality. In this turbulent era of economic uncertainty, fiscal responsibility does not stop at milestones such as sealing budget gaps.

Lawmakers smarting from this budget battle should heed those concerns.

And understand them, only too well.