After the cuts; Long-term vision, spending restraint are keys.

COLUMN: IN OUR OPINION

If there is a silver lining in the state budget cuts announced this week, it is that it presents Gov. Deval L. Patrick and the Legislature a golden opportunity to demonstrate that they indeed understand the financial straits Massachusetts families and businesses find themselves in - and are committed to a long-term, sustainable approach to financing state government.

The rhetorical buildup to the cuts announced Wednesday suggested that, having exhausted the search for any remaining so-called "fat" in the budget, the governor would have no choice but to cut "muscle." Yet, the list of spending cuts issued by the governor's office indicates the measures, while substantive in many instances, are hardly draconian. Indeed, the cutbacks pointedly spared those programs most important to key constituencies: local aid, education, public safety and vital human services.

More than $200 million of the estimated $1.4 billion budget imbalance will be closed through new revenues. Another $200 million may come from tapping the state's rainy-day fund, and $100 million from pushing back - yet again - the date for fully funding the state pension fund.

That's not to say the budget-balancing plan is less than sincere: The proposed cuts constitute a meaningful step away from the unsustainable growth in spending that is evident even in the current budget, enacted in July as the financial clouds gathered.

In any case, the cuts will mean some pain, including loss of employment for 1,000 state workers, lower reimbursements for some doctors and hospitals and a hiring freeze and modest program cuts at state universities. Mr. Patrick struck the right tone when he noted, "There is real cause for concern, but not for panic."

More telling than the immediate spending cuts will be the follow-through on the governor's bold proposals for restructuring government - by consolidating agencies to minimize redundancy, confusion and duplication of effort. Reform of state employee pension and health insurance benefits also promise long-term savings.

We believe that at this key moment, nearly two years into his term, Mr. Patrick understands in a very concrete way the yawning gap that can exist between the aspirations of a campaign and the realities of governance.

When the economy finds its footing again, Mr. Patrick will face a different and equally important challenge: resisting moves on Beacon Hill to revert to the unsustainable spending that is at the root of today's budget mess.

The economic lessons of 2008 have been sobering. We hope they are taken permanently to heart.