Ann Arbor City Council did the right thing to maintain human services funding
It was with a sense of relief and pride that I read the report telling us that the Ann Arbor City Council had decided to use some of our municipal savings to maintain crucial human services for 2011-12 Think of our own family. When things are tight, don’t we do our best to put nutritious food on the table, heat in the house and continue regular medical checkups, even if we have to tap our savings accounts?
And the city has an advantage that we do not. Ann Arbor.com reported on June 6th that for every dollar local communities invest in non-profits, they will reap a $12 return. Financial reserves are for when communities and people are in crisis. That describes what so many Ann Arborites are going through now. This is exactly the time when it is right to go into savings to help keep members of our community afloat until they can return to work and respond to the foreclosure crisis. Then they will again be contributing, tax-paying members of our community.
Lucia Heinold
Ann Arbor
Comments
braggslaw
Sun, Jun 26, 2011 : 12:08 p.m.
Sounds like a good deal, taking money from others...
lester88
Sun, Jun 26, 2011 : 4:07 a.m.
That's just great. It would be really worth celebrating if the city were not giving layoff notices to employees creating a greater need. They should consider donating a portion of this funding to those who they are throwing out on the streets. You should be really proud Lucia.
Brian Kuehn
Sat, Jun 25, 2011 : 11:05 p.m.
I object to the City taking tax dollars and allocating them to non-profit organizations. I have no problem with any of the organizations receiving money. Many recieve support from my family. However, each citizens ahould decide where their charitable contributions go. The City has no business using tax dollars to support select charities.
Leah Gunn
Sat, Jun 25, 2011 : 10:49 p.m.
The City of Ann Arbor has joined with Washtenaw County, The Urban County, The Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation and the Washtenaw County United Way in a joint effort to fund local non-profits. The criteria for even being able to apply set a high bar, and the criteria for being funded demand accountability with measurable results to assess the effectiveness of programs. These are not giveaways. They are actual contratcts with outcomes. I am very proud to have been a part of the process that initiated this funding, and it provides acountability to the donors and taxpayers. This process has been covered in both AnnArbor.com and in other local media.
lester88
Sun, Jun 26, 2011 : 4:10 a.m.
Wow, AA.com huh? And Other local media. I'm really convinced now.
KeepingItReal
Sat, Jun 25, 2011 : 10:24 p.m.
While you support the City in its efforts to fund Human Services, have you ever demanded any accountability from those agencies it funds. The public needs to know of the funding is making any difference.