DCMP on 
Dana Porter on 
Times are tough all over. I understand the sacrifice needed to get our nation, our state, and our city budgets in line. A sacrifice the Bush administration was not willing to ask Americans to make when it started a war of choice and gave tax breaks to the rich. Now that sacrifice needs to be made on the watch of someone else. Like Barack Obama. Like Columbus Mayor Mike Coleman.
A 2009 budget that is $54.5 million less than the amount needed to provide the same services offered in 2008 will require residents to come together as a community and to make sacrifices.
That’s the message Mayor Mike Coleman shared with the city Friday, Nov. 14, when he announced his 2009 budget proposal, which will next go to City Council for consideration.
The Columbus Dispatch
In the case of Mayor Coleman’s budget, I think it is important for all citizen’s to review it’s specifics. Some programs being cut may be penny-wise but pound-foolish.
For instance, a cut to the neighborhood health centers will mean that those without insurance may be denied medical care. If they cannot find treatment, it is possible their conditions may worsen and in the future lead to higher hospital costs as their health issues become life threatening. Moreover, the alcohol and drug abuse program is facing significant cuts. I must admit I have a vested interest in this program. Regardless, almost all of the research shows that treatment is a less expensive alternative to hospitalization, jail, or prison.
Still, I applaud Mayor Coleman for making the tough choices and challenging the community.
“I’m asking us to all take on more responsibility because the city will be doing less,” Coleman said. In the wake of Hurricane Ike, “I saw people doing things they normally would not do because it was a crisis,” he said. Columbus residents will need that spirit in the coming years, he said.
This week, there was a headline with a picture of Obama on the November 17-24, U.S. News & World Report. It said “promise to keep.” I disagree. It should have said “work to be done.” Work by politicians like Obama in a bipartisan atmosphere, but also work by American’s. We share some responsibility for the situation we find ourselves in. Let’s hope we continue to have politicians who challenge our better nature.
[...] I wrote a post about a fee for trash collection that would almost wipe out the budget deficit, but have heard nothing from the city council or the mayor since. I also wrote about how sometimes the money you spend actually save money here. [...]
[...] it is short sighted to not spend resources on treatment, as I posted about here, it actually saves taxpayer money in the long run. Paul Coleman, president of Maryhaven, a Columbus [...]