04/21/2022
Budgeting: A Time of Hard Choices
April 18, 2022
Alamance County Commissioners are in the process of “setting the county budget” for the 2022-23 year. As I weigh these important decisions, I will use the following beliefs:
• We cannot depend on government to solve every problem and fill every need. Big government is usually NOT good government. This community has many resources.
• Taxpayers should not be asked to pay for any service multiple times.
• Integrity is more important than political fallout.
• Every expenditure of county money must be necessary, fiscally responsible, and conservative.
• I represent the citizens of Alamance County. I need to listen to their concerns and priorities.
During last night’s Alamance County Commissioner’s meeting two nonprofit agencies made requests for funding. Friendship Adult Day Care requested emergency funding to help reopen their facility. I voted against that funding because many other nonprofits have presented requests and are waiting for the budget process to be completed. All nonprofits need to be treated fairly. My vote was also influenced by the fact that Friendship Adult Day care currently is not in operation and has not been providing contracted services to the county since 2020.
Veterans Community Project of Kansas City Missouri made a presentation on the tremendous needs of our veteran population and asked for the commissioners to support bringing the next Veterans Community Tiny House project to Alamance County. This project would provide transitional housing and coordinated veterans’ services to help veterans navigate the confusing maze of requirements and paperwork needed to access services that they have earned. When this project was first proposed, we were told that it “wouldn’t cost the county a penny”. Last night we were told that the cost would be approximately 6.5 million dollars in start-up funds and the donation of land which the county owns. That change certainly makes me less likely to vote favorably. Veteran Services should be covered by federal tax dollars. Taxpayers have already paid federal taxes to cover the care of our veterans. They should not be forced to pay again because the federal government isn’t fulfilling its obligation.
If the County Commissioners choose to donate 6.5 million dollars and valuable county property to this Kansas City nonprofit, it will prohibit us from funding other desperately needed county projects and/or necessitate a substantial increase in taxes for all county citizens.
At this point, I believe that the better choice is to deny both funding requests. I hope that both nonprofits will be able to find charitable donors and will be able to provide their services within our county, but I cannot justify funding these nonprofits instead of adequately funding projects which are more directly a responsibility of county government.
