Gilford generously donates $86,212.00 to charitable organizations
The first cuts have been made to the proposed municipal budget by the Budget Committee. To hear it reported, you would think that Gilford has eliminated all charitable spending. This is absolutely untrue. The property taxpayers of Gilford will continue to give, only less, and the list of non-governmental agencies (insulated from the scrutiny of local oversight) receiving largesse will get smaller.
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Thursday night, the budget committee eliminated a total of $13,849.00 from the so-called "outside agencies" portion of the budget, leaving a total of $88,599.00 of taxpayer monies donated to charitable organizations.
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Included in the funding is Lakes Region Community Health & Hospice- $23,500, Lakes Region Family Services-$3,400, Community Action Program-$7947, Youth Services Bureau-$37,024, Lakes Region Planning Commision-$7,914, as well as funding for the NH Humane Society. Does this sound stingy to you? Add another $64,000 for the welfare portion of the budget and you should conclude that the property taxpayers of Gilford are, in fact, awfully generous.
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Remember, the federal and state governments spend gobs and gobs of money on health and human services already. All who currently pay taxes other than property already contribute. Where is it written that we need yet another layer of government funding? How much more will the social-services industrial complex be allowed to take from our wallets?
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Oh, and those of you who absolutely feel the Red Cross needs your money that bad, go to the Belknap Mall- there is a new Red Cross center there where you can make an immediate donation- free from the costs of the government middleman... Nobody's stopping you.
Comments
Is this your idea of compromise? This money is not "charitable" if it's extorted from my pocket under forfeit of my property!All of these organizations should be looking for donations like true charities. There is NO doubt that these organizations do good work. THAT IS NOT THE POINT!!!! It should not be the Budget committee nor the Selectmen's position to "donate" tax payer dollars. All the proponents in favor of this spending are more than free to donate their money.
Posted by: Terry Stewart | October 20, 2006 02:40 PM
So what's a poor budcom member to do? Cut all of it? ;-)
Posted by: doug | October 20, 2006 07:59 PM
Re: Outside Agencies. Years ago, we used to be told that the amount proposed for the Humane Society was not really a contribution but a bill for services; that without them our Police Department would have to have extensive facilities for handling stray animals. If that is so (and I think I asked this at the time but I don't remember the answer) why isn't it simply part of the Police Department budget?
Posted by: Dick Campbell | October 21, 2006 08:37 AM
Good point, Dick. Perhaps we should bring this up? In any case, it is a line item budget for services rendered.....right?
Posted by: Skip | October 21, 2006 09:14 AM