Reducing flower funding was right move

Published 10:01 am 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.

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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.