To the editor:
Let the wailing and gnashing of teeth begin. For six or seven years, it seems like every special interest group (whether it's the T, Eagle Bend, folks wanting traffic-calming devices, neighborhood associations or social service groups) coming before the city has been given money, while basic infrastructure, emergency services and repairs have been underfunded. So much so that some of these entities feel "entitled" to the funding. This was money the city did not take in, but borrowed from reserve funds. Now, it has little left to give out.
At the same time, the city has made it very clear that it is, at best, difficult - if not impossible - to work with. A good number of businesses that considered Lawrence as a location have turned away. Even some of our own local businesses have left. That's sales tax revenue lost, property tax base unrealized and jobs not materializing.
Now the bills have come due. Does the city budget have to be cut? Absolutely. However, continuing to underfund road repair/replacement, public safety agencies and emergency equipment repairs/replacement will only make today's need more expensive. It may also open the city to a suit for willful neglect when someone is injured on its unsafe streets or because emergency equipment was unavailable to respond in a timely manner.
This financial dilemma will not go away with the 2007-08 budget, but will be here for several budgets to come. Those who relied on the city may have to become more reliant on their own ability to generate income.
Ken Meyer,
Lawrence
Comments
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merrill (anonymous) says…
Neighborhood Associations Given Money? Not from city sources but federal CDBG funding which is money well spent for projects within neighborhoods.
The T receives a good deal of its' funding through federal sources as do railroads and airlines. This is customary among most cities with few exceptions so I read.
http://kclabor.org/tranfut.htm
Public transport systems generally rely on government subsidy to supplement fare collections, though a few systems are run as unsubsidized commercial enterprises or are entirely paid for by governments. The percentage of revenue from passenger charges is known as the farebox recovery ratio. Some systems are owned and operated by a government agency; other transportation services may be commercial, but receive greater benefits from the government compared to a normal company.
One reason many cities spend large sums on their public transport systems is that heavy automobile traffic congests city streets and causes air pollution. It is believed that public transport systems do help alleviate this. Some city councils fund public transport infrastructure to promote business,employment and economic growth.
Of the 421,864 one way "T" and 55,176 "T"lift trips provided in 2006
*47% were job related
* 7% Medical related
* 18% student related
http://www.lawrencetransit.org
Traffic calming devices are not the problem. Speeding traffic is the problem. May I suggest a local Traffic Safety Fee of $100 be applied to each moving violation citation issued without exception to assist in funding the enormous amount of time devoted to violators of traffic laws.
"while basic infrastructure, emergency services and repairs have been underfunded." After 25 years of expanding the tax base Lawrence should not be cutting services but more than able to maintain ALL of its' new and existing infrastructure so where did the money go? You want some answers? Let's demand a quite detailed Cost of Community Services Study instead of speculating.
"For six or seven years, it seems like every special interest group (whether it's the T, Eagle Bend, folks wanting traffic-calming devices, neighborhood associations or social service groups) coming before the city has been given money, while basic infrastructure, emergency services and repairs have been underfunded. So much so that some of these entities feel "entitled" to the funding. This was money the city did not take in, but borrowed from reserve funds. " (((Source please.)))
While some of Lawrence streets may not be in perfect condition I say drive accordingly which may mean slow down. If we cannot afford the streets we have now why are we allowing more to be built? Something is not working. Were existing resources being ignored to proliferate the Westward Ho expansion? Citizen/taxpayers deserve specific answers to these questions not speculation.