E.L.'s handling of budget deficit commendable

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Families across the United States are struggling to find ways to live within their means, and the city of East Lansing is no different.

To help relieve a two-year, $5 million budget deficit, East Lansing is wants to scale back funding for existing programs instead of making major personnel or program cuts. The possible cost-saving procedures include scaling back funds for arts and culture, consolidating school liaison officers from two to one and reducing leaf pickup from three days a year to just two. The city also might dip into its $3.2 million reserve fund.

Considering other cities have been laying off workers and cutting programs throughout the 2009-10 fiscal year, East Lansing is doing well. The city saved $2 million in the last fiscal year by making minor cuts and looks to save another $3 million next year.

East Lansing is doing its best to trim around the edges as its officials fight through an extremely stressful financial crisis. Not many cities can say they’ve prepared as well as East Lansing, which has made it this far without suffering major cuts.

The city has shown many times it has a great track record when it comes to budgeting. East Lansing has left positions unfilled and scaled back services some cities didn’t even have before the recession, such as leaf pickup and citizen police training. Despite the state reducing revenue sharing by $4 billion the past decade, East Lansing has been able to maintain a “rainy day fund” to ensure the city makes it through times like the current financial crisis.

While the city’s programs are taking minor funding cuts, some cities in Michigan are being forced to shut down schools, cutting complete programs and laying off many employees. Cities that haven’t planned as well as East Lansing are having to cut necessities, all while East Lansing is just scaling back mostly luxuries.

However, it should be noted that East Lansing has lost three firefighters and nine police officers as a result of budget cuts. The East Lansing Public Library also will be closed an extra five days for furloughs.

It’s unclear what programs — if any — should be cut if the economy doesn’t continue to improve. East Lansing still has some luxury programs — such as the aforementioned citizen police academy and an emerging leaders program — that could be completely cut without huge problems if budgets get any tighter. It appears as if East Lansing already is following this system, but it would be best if the city continues to cut only comforts until they are all gone. Eventually, all the leisurely amenities might have to go. In that situation, major cuts could follow, but for now, unnecessary programs and services come first.

The only question that arises from cutting luxuries in tough financial times is whether the city can restore programs and services that were cut once the economy improves. It shouldn’t be too much to ask to ensure arts and culture will be restored to the residents of East Lansing when the city has the means to do so.

Families don’t like to cut out necessities and neither do cities. Hopefully East Lansing can continue to make ends meet without getting rid of noticeable services.

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