I disagree with your analysis.  The budget can be balanced by adopting something similar to Walker's proposed restructure of the PDF, netting ~$2 billion, and actually cutting state spending by a billion (12.5%, cut 1 billion out of 8 billion).  An income tax is definitely not the way to go - it punishes productive people.  If an income tax is instituted and we are still giving out ANY PFD's then the PFD's is a wealth transfer welfare payment and those of us paying an income tax will work to repeal the ENTIRE PFD.  It makes no sense to have one state agency taking in money and another handing it out.  Get rid of BOTH state agencies - eliminate the PFD and don't institute an income tax - and POOF hundreds of current and potential State employees are gone