Our County Commissioners have the hard and often thankless task of crafting our county budget out of many competing demands and finite resources means. While I appreciate their hard work, I feel their recommendation to gut the social service requests is short sighted and in the long run harmful to our community.
Their decisions about these programs, which include sexual assault services (SAPARS), children’s services (Franklin County Children’s Task Force) among several others suggest or imply that they are somehow less important or discretionary but this is the mindset of kicking a can down a road. Short changing community welfare as this does, only sets us up for problems down the road. Think crime, substance abuse, behavioral and disciplinary problems in our school.
The commissioners no doubt seek to enhance community development now and in the future. To this end they would hardly zero out or short change fire and police protection, for example. I urge them to rethink their harsh response to these budget requests. The cost is relatively small, about 5 dollars per year for the average homeowner and the avoided costs are large. Domestic violence, for example, comprises 15 percent of the total cost of crime in a community. Putting aside pain and suffering, the direct medical costs of a single rape are about $5,000/case. Victims of sexual assault are 6-10 times more likely to develop a substance abuse problem following an assault, and this is an issue that is ravaging our county. The commissioners invite those of us who support these services to make our contributions personally. I can assure them that we do but that does not take the place of demonstrating the support of our elected officials.
Steve Bien, MD
Farmington
Well put Steve.
I feel the perspective of these editorials to be very out of touch with most of the population. 5$ may not be a lot to a Dr. but for many it is their only shot at dinner. If the amount is so minuscule as all these writers propose, why wouldn’t they just make up the difference?
To farmingtowner.
You asked why “they” wouldn’t just make up the difference?
The author said he does this. And so do many others.
It is done Gladly and with no thanks needed.
It IS the right thing to do (if you can) and It’s all good.
Taking these services away costs all of us more in the end.
Unless you are ok with turning our collective backs on the truly needy.
Many of us are not ok with that.
That was the point of the article.
Who is out of touch with what?
Until you or one of your loved needs the services and they aren’t there, farmingtowner. Not to mention the local people that will lose their jobs if these agencies have to close their doors or cut jobs. But what do we care, as long as we save you $5?
farmingtonowner:
That’s $5 per year for a homeowner. Roughly a penny per day for a homeowner is the tax perspective.
If you consider the Dr.’s arguments to be valid, that’s miniscule to anybody.
“… about 5 dollars per year for the average homeowner …”
There was no suggestion that this cost should be born by poor/destitute people.
Poor choices by those in authority indeed have awful outcomes for a whole community.
People who can’t afford the $5 are usually the ones who benefit from the services these organizations. Now they will have to travel for the services or go to the Town Hall for assistance. I hope we are not stepping over a dollar to pick up a dime.
The CAP agency does not benefit those of us that $5 hurts. Next winter the towns will need to expect more general assistance requests for heating and other assistance. less elderly and disabled will see their houses insulated and/or repaired. Every action has a reaction
The sheriff will say that “they” run a lean operation, but I believe that the fleet of vehicles and equipment has been abused for way too long. The jail and office building should serve as a central location for reporting to work. All the county deputies should be driving their own vehicles to the office, then if they need to, use a county owned vehicle for duty business.
For decades… decades the sheriff, chief deputy and others have benefited from the use of the tax payers purchasing them vehicles for their personal use. Stop the abuse there. Just like most working folks, they should drive their own cars to the office. Simple savings there!
I would like to know if the deputies are on duty, if needed while at home. When they leave home for their work day. If their patrol starts when they leave their driveway. If called for an emergency would they drive to the jail to get a vehicle with the necessary equipment and then respond? Deputies living in Rangeley, Stratton, Kingfield, Weld etc.. too many ifs seems to make more sense to take the vehicle home.