Print this story | E-mail story | This story has 6 comments Add your own | iPod friendly
We must remember non-profits
Published Wednesday, June 25, 2008
High gas prices hurt individuals, families, businesses and even the government.
Each person or group has to make difficult decisions about how much they’ll spend and where they’ll cut back.
But at least the decision is theirs.
For many non-profit agencies there is no decision on the table.
The agencies — most of them — already run on shoe string budgets. They can’t cutback, because there is nothing to cut.
These agencies must either cut services or find new money.
Cutting services will only deepen the blow to many local families already struggling with their own family budgets.
Monday night the Concordia Parish Council on Aging asked the Concordia Parish Police Jury to place a tax on the ballot that would fund the agency.
The council needs more funds to buy gas to deliver meals to the elderly and transport seniors without other transportation options.
No one wants to hear about more taxes right now.
But, as the prices at the pump continue to spike, we all have to sit back and think not just about our family budgets, but about those of non-profits that keep portions of our community alive.
If times are tough for you, they are likely tougher for someone else.
Comments
Posted by EnKiKur (anonymous) on June 25, 2008 at 1:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Well, Editorial Board, the article you wrote made it sound like the Council needs 400,000 to buy gas for the one van they parked due to high gas prices.
When you write these editorials asking for the people to vote for more taxes for the children, the elderly, and the whole City of ________, how about now and then some of these agencies posting their balance sheets so the people can make an informed decision rather than an emotional one?
Posted by beammeupscotty (anonymous) on June 25, 2008 at 3:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I work my but off, and with the costs of everything I consider myself as non-profit.
Posted by destiny (anonymous) on June 25, 2008 at 5:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Good for both of you. And it would be great for those blance sheets to be printed as a community service. That way we could help the ones most in need. We have no way of knowing who to contribute to first since there are so many. Our people are more than ready and willing to help our fellow man, they have proven that, but we need a guide line in order to do so. Help us out with this. No need for taking time to make new tax laws. That is just another money guzzler.
Posted by fatherof4 (anonymous) on June 25, 2008 at 1:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Didn't they see this need, before they voted on their pay raises?
Posted by GHarri (anonymous) on June 26, 2008 at 11:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)
No doubt we must continue to support non-profits, but this summer, many families simply have no dough. It's more important than ever to create and stick to tough, realistic household budgets:
http://digits.hrblock.com/ssDigits/digit...
Posted by Krogers (anonymous) on June 27, 2008 at 4:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
good point fatherof4
Maybe parking those city vehicles after hours and not allowing city employees to use city vehicles for PERSONAL use would help?
I see many Natchez city vehicles after work hours at Walmart, etc. Mileage of city vehicles should be closely monitored and accounted for.
I can understand certain Fire Dept, NPD, and ACSO officers having their city vehicles for emergency use after hours, but not recreation, public works, and other nonemergency/first responder vehicles. Let's tighten up Natchez and Vidalia. We're in tough times, so let's act accordingly. Any city employees sponging off the city should be reprimanded and relieved of duty.
I do have a problem with ACSO deputies using their county patrol cars in the operation of their private security businesses after hours though. It's common knowledge that NPD and ACSO officers often either have second jobs as security officers for private business, or have a full blown security business along with their county employment. To me, that should be stopped. Either dedicate yourself entirely to the county as a law enforcement officer, or resign. To use county vehicles during the operation of another business is taking advantage of the public trust.
Post a comment (Terms of Use Policy)
(Requires free registration.)