There’s a Difference Between a “Need” and a “Want”

The Town of Morrisville is giving local governments two key lessons by the way it is handling a town parade that was cut from the budget. First, not everything is a “need” worthy of taxpayer funding. Some events and programs might be nice to have, or nice to do, but being a good steward of public money is being willing to say there’s a difference between a need and a want and then prioritize the budget accordingly. Second, local businesses and civic groups will step up with funding and assistance if there is enough demand for the event or program. This may seem obvious, but when it comes to saying “no,” too many public officials aren’t willing to face criticism from those who believe there should be few or no limits on government involvement and subsidy.