Last Friday, the board of directors of the Kansas Historical Society had its fall meeting in Topeka. They heard a report on finances from the executive director in which she outlined the fairly drastic cuts the Society had suffered in the past few months because of the stateâÂÂs fiscal crisis.

While all of those present were quite bothered by this account, I confess that most of us had already read or heard about the cuts that have crippled state government and were hardly surprised at its effect on the society. Nor were we particularly surprised or upset by the potential for more cuts, given the $255 million current account deficit that must be eliminated by next June.

What most of us found far more upsetting was the executive directorâÂÂs comment that it was almost impossible to even begin to make detailed plans for these expected cuts because no word had come from the governor as to what they would be.

The situation as it now stands is that under the law the governor is required to make cuts to government agencies and other entities receiving government funds âÂÂ:quot; including schools, community colleges and universities âÂÂ:quot; to assure that the state does not end the year in deficit. Because the LegislatureâÂÂs actions last year were not sufficient to cover the stateâÂÂs current expenditures, the governorâÂÂs duty to cut comes into play.

Gov. Bill Graves allocated cuts in the amount of $41 million. Unfortunately, state revenue estimates were inaccurate and, as income decreased, the amount of the projected budget deficit increased, requiring that more cuts will need to be made. No one in state government believes these cuts can be avoided.

At the moment, two key questions must be answered, however. First, of course, is how the budget cuts will be allocated among the various recipients of state money. Second is the question of when the decision on these cuts will be made so they can be enacted. It is this latter question that is now very much an issue for every state agency, school and university. The clock is ticking. Every day that passes, it becomes harder for recipients of state funds to make cuts because with every day more expenditures are made.

The state fiscal year began July 1, 2002, and will end on June 30, 2003. If cuts were ordered effective Dec. 1, agencies, schools and others would have to make those cuts over the remaining seven months, a difficult task. If cuts donâÂÂt become effective until Feb. 1, the cuts will have to be made over a shorter period, i.e., five months, a far harder task. Thus, every agency, school and university wants to know as soon as possible how much they must cut by June 30. And this, of course, is where our current problem lies.

When Harry Truman was president, he was famous for the sign on his desk that said âÂÂthe buck stops here.â That, to me, is the essence of leadership. Leaders have to make decisions, even when theyâÂÂre tough decisions and when they may be unpopular or even hurt the leaderâÂÂs own career. People trust their leaders to do what is necessary when it is necessary. Where is Kansasâ leadership now? Gov. Graves, who is still governor, refuses to make the cuts everyone knows he must. Gov.-elect Sebelius says she isnâÂÂt governor yet and it is Gov. Gravesâ problem until she is.

While these two leaders debate who has to make the tough decisions, every state employee must live with uncertainty, and every recipient of state funds must sit in frustration knowing that the sooner they can plan and begin making necessary cuts, the less damage theyâÂÂll have to do to their agencies. Where are our leaders when we need them?

Nobody ever said being a leader, whether in the military, a corporation or in the Statehouse, was easy. But those who are privileged to serve in leadership roles do so willingly and assume responsibilities to those they lead.

The time for debate and dithering and passing the buck is over. Truman knew that when he made one of the hardest decisions any American president was asked to make. What we are asking of our state leadership now is much easier than TrumanâÂÂs tasks, but they have yet to act and, thereby, have yet to lead.

Perhaps, we can hope that the spirit of Truman and of all the men and women who have served this country and this state throughout the years might descend upon our governor and governor-elect and cause them to assume the mantle of leadership at last.