Based on the N&R’s reporting, seems to me they were comparing apples to oranges during the discussion about Greensboro’s $5.6 million budget gap:
Residents mentioned various programs they would like the city to continue to support — like funding for the Greensboro Children’s Museum and a youth leadership program.
“The city’s identity is built around things like that,” resident David Craft said.
Some expressed concerns that the years of cutbacks are hurting overall city services.
“How many years can we continue to cut big chunks from the budget and maintain quality programs?” resident Willie Taylor asked.
That is the eternal question —perhaps if the city took a closer look at quality programs then –imagine this –city services wouldn’t wouldn’t have to suffer. Meanwhile, the Winston-Salem Journal—-good for them — questions City Council member Dan Besse’s view tha all the ‘low-hanging fruit’ has been plucked from the city budget, necessitating a $100 million bond for ‘economic development’ —a ‘quality program’ G’boro’s pondering —- and a streetcar connecting Wake Baptist Medical Center with Winston-Salem State University.
Unfortunately the Journal’s editorial doesn’t elaborate on fellow council member Molly Leight’s comment that she has “always felt that being the city with the lowest tax rate is nothing to brag about.” An interesting comment, considering she follows up with her awareness that “$50 is a lot to people. It’s a lot to me.”
