Good government isn’t cheap.

Cheap government isn’t good.

These phrases should resonate with members of the 124th Maine Legislature, who will negotiate maybe the most challenging fiscal environment facing this state’s government in nearly two decades.

On Wednesday, Gov. John Baldacci announced an $80 million spending curtailment, the second this year, to offset the dramatic reductions in revenues the continued economic decline is wreaking upon state governments.

By state estimates, the short-term deficit will be approximately $150 million, which – compared to red ink rising in other states – can almost be considered good news.

But the longer view, which hints at a nightmarish scenario of future deficits totaling hundreds of millions, would tax the ability of lawmakers and Gov. John Baldacci to govern amid fiscal paranoia.

In tight times, government tendency is cut for cuts’ sake. It’s happened in the recent past, and foreboding about what’s coming foreshadows its return. But slashing budgets to balance ledgers is shortsighted, if critical services and overall government performance suffers as a result.

Voters have rejected this approach on two occasions, in 2003 and 2006, by defeating rather stark taxation and spending limit referendums. What this says is Maine doesn’t want a cheap government. It doesn’t want programs and services jettisoned or ransacked in a feverish cutting spell.

What Maine needs is a government willing to examine itself closely in terms of value, not pure expense.

In truth, Maine’s needed this for a long while.

Instead, we’ve seen crusades to save nickels in lieu of expeditions to save dollars. Now, dire fiscal straits present opportunity – and excuse – for government to reinvent ways of doing business.

Lawmakers and officials would be wise to capitalize on it.

Look, everyone knew this was coming. That’s why the University of Maine system, for example, was pleased its curtailment loss was only $8.3 million, not $10.6 million as thought. Budget thunderclouds have been on the horizon.

This is a time for negotiation, consultation and revolution. It’s a time for questioning historical trends, commonly held beliefs and past practices. It’s an occasion to think about why money is spent, not what money is spent on.

It’s also an opportunity for those to pledge bipartisanship to keep this vow.

And, if at the end of this trying process, Maine’s leaders can sculpt an efficient, effective government that remains open and accountable to citizens, flexible to changing times and admitting of its flaws, they can declare success.

The starting point for these difficult budget discussions should be this simple question:

Would this make Maine government cheap, or does it make it good?