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Reducing flower funding was right move
Published Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Expect more of the same. On Monday, the Austin City Council voted to slash its budget this year for the area’s flower program in half. About 50 percent of the funding for the $40,000 program comes from donations, with the rest coming from the city.
Council members voted to reduce its share to $10,000.
The flowers are usually planted along Main Street, Todd Park, East Side Lake, Fourth Avenue Northeast, the Law Enforcement Center and other locations.
As reported by the Herald’s Katie Johnson in Tuesday’s edition, public opinion on the program seems mixed as some seem to enjoy it, while others feel it’s a waste of tax payers’ money.
We can see both sides.
It’s important to make a town as attractive as possible for both residents and visitors and to keep it clean and safe.
It’s also crucial to do so in a fiscally responsible way, and cutting the city’s portion in half seems like a good start.
As much as we hope cuts like these won’t continue, the reality is that as both the national economy and the state’s budget crisis worsen, the possibility of more cuts on the local level seems more likely.
It’s important that our local officials prioritize these cuts to make the impact as minimal as possible.
Monday’s move was a good first step.
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Comments
Posted by formeraustinian (anonymous) on February 4, 2009 at 3:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
At this point in the economy, setting priorities is a necessity. But making a $20,000 cut in flowers won't even be noticed. The County has a 1/2 million dollar project that is already over budget and they haven't even broke ground yet. And then for the City Council to come out of their meeting and the only cut is the "flower budget" - I mean come on! How can anybody that sits on that Council claim that they're helping the budget by cutting $20,000. Once again the elephant is in the room, but the Co. Commissioners and City Council are ignoring it! The article says that "the possibility of more cuts on the local level seems more likely"?!?! More likely - nothing - YES THERE WILL BE MORE CUTS AND THE LOCAL LEVEL IS WHERE THEY WILL TAKE PLACE - there's no "likely" about it! And if the City Council think they can snowball people into believing that $20,000 is a good starting point - they should all be thrown out/impeached. Isn't anyone pay attention to the National and State economy news!
Posted by purpleheart1 (anonymous) on February 4, 2009 at 5:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
For all you whiners - go pick some wild flowers and plant them around town. It will give you something to do instead of whining, and it will beautify Austin and make you feel better about being useful at the same time. Not to mention the wild flowers are free for the taking! Such a deal!! :)
Posted by leftys2221 (anonymous) on February 5, 2009 at 8:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
If people keep saying that $20,000 here and there "isn't even a drop in the bucket" or "wont even be noticed" for everything pretty soon we have $1 million that is noticed.
Posted by senior (anonymous) on February 5, 2009 at 2:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I hate to say this but only the wealthy will survive and they do not give a damm about the commen people.Its sad but true.
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