http://66.225.205.104/CM20100614.mp3
Tomorrow night, the Mecklenburg County Commission will take a final vote on their budget for 2011. It will include millions of dollars in cuts to nearly every department and program in the community. Proposed reductions to the public library system have been the focus of much discussion and library officials have warned they may have to close more branches. Commentator Bruce Elliot offers a different solution: You've seen the headlines, read the articles and listened to the news reports. You know about the county budget crisis in Mecklenburg and you probably know that our libraries and parks have been hit with some of the steepest cuts. While elected officials and county staff have struggled to come up with cuts that do the least harm, I'm wondering if maybe we are overlooking an important question in all this. "What are our priorities, and does the budget reflect our priorities?" Okay, so that's two questions - but they're both worth asking! Just this week, both the county and city have come up with additional funds that are now slated for the libraries. Yet they are still short of the funding needed just to maintain their already reduced level of service. But there is another way. The proposed county budget has a line item called "business investment grants" - $6.5 million of incentives the county plans to give away to profitable corporations who relocate here. Think about this: can we really afford to subsidize profitable corporations while our parks, public schools and libraries are allowed to crumble and close? Without robust schools, libraries and parks, a big chunk of our renowned quality of life is taken away. As a matter of public policy we must reconsider our priorities. When you get to the heart of the matter, it comes down to this: our public officials are taking away precious tax dollars and giving them to the wealthy and powerful at the expense of those who have little. The libraries are used by people from all walks of life, but it is the vulnerable working poor who are most dependent on them for the many services they render. Are we really willing to allow our most valuable public resources to be sacrificed, with those who can least afford it bearing the greatest burden? We must also consider our quality of life. It's more than just a feel good story - it is literally the main reason that companies relocate here. The people who run companies want to live where communities are vibrant and creative. So it is in our own economic interest to keep the quality of our cultural and educational resources strong and robust. It is essential that we at least maintain our quality of life if we want to stay economically competitive! I've lived in Charlotte since 1983, drawn here by vision and vibrancy of a generous community. With the notable exception of the air quality, Mecklenburg's quality of life has since improved in nearly every way. Today our parks and greenways are competing with New York and Miami for a national award, and our library system has twice received the coveted Five Star Award from the prestigious Library Journal. These public treasures work very well for us, something we can take great pride in. Let us re-think our priorities before we allow our tax dollars to be given away to large and profitable companies at the expense of our cultural and educational heritage. Let's speak up for ourselves, for all the children and for those generations to come - our future and theirs hangs in the balance. Commentator Bruce Elliott works for a web and graphic design firm in Charlotte.