Coffee Time

Perhaps some of the best advice I've received as a newly elected official came from a predictable source, Fort Wayne City Councilman Mitch Harper, who long ago served several years in the Indiana General Assembly.  Harper, like myself, is very much a student and admirer of one of Indiana's finest public servants - Governor Otis Bowen.  So his advice, as you can imagine, would make Doc Bowen proud.  Harper's advice was simply that when it comes to opposing a program or idea, "do it thoughtfully".  So as I deal with perhaps the first controversial issue in the four months I've served on County Council, let me "thoughtfully" explain my opposition to continued taxpayer funding of the Whitley County Humane Society. 

I understand this is an emotional issue for many pet owners and animal lovers in our community and therefore want to do my best to explain my logic in voting against further funding.  The Council has dealt with Humane Shelter funding issues in two of our four meetings so far this year.  A few months ago we declined the request to appropriate an additional $36,000 to the Humane Society.  At our meeting last week, we declined a request for a smaller amount.  After the first meeting involving the Humane Society, I toured their facility and enjoyed the opportunity to meet with board members and staff to learn more about their important operation.  Let me be very clear, the Whitley County Humane Society is a very important organization and cause in our county.  I support their mission 100%.  My issue is not with the Humane Society but rather with the appropriate use of taxpayer dollars. 

I do not believe that taxpayer funds should be used to bolster or sustain non-profit organizations.  There are many non-profit organizations currently struggling in these tough economic times as they serve the public.  Whether the Humane Society, the local food bank, or any other local non-profit, it is not proper for the County Council to dedicate your tax dollars to help fund these organizations.  Rather, in my opinion, it is up to each individual tax payer and citizen to determine which non-profits he or she wishes to support.

There are times, however, when an organization like the Humane Society can be contracted to perform a certain service that the county can't perform itself.  The contract that the Humane Shelter had with the county has recently expired.  Before voting for further funding, I've asked to review a contract that spells out the exact services that will be performed by the Humane Society on behalf of the county.  I've also encouraged those involved to examine ways this contract can be more of a fee for service arrangement instead of the county giving an annual block amount of taxpayer funds to the organization, which, in my opinion, is nothing more than giving a taxpayer funded contribution to a non-profit organization.  Without a contract, I can't in good conscience vote to give the organization more funding. 

Another similar issue and request was brought before the Council at last week's meeting involving a local businessman who was asking for a grant to improve his business.  As a county, we have several tools available to assist our local businesses, and in these tough times we need to be creative in finding ways that local government can support local businesses.  However, I simply don't believe that giving away your hard earned dollars to a business is an appropriate act of government.  It might be legal and it may have been done before, but that doesn't make it right.  I think most of you would agree that giving taxpayer funds to one business means we'll have a line a mile long of other business people who want their share too.  That's a dangerous precedent.  In the age of government bailouts, bloated budgets and higher deficits, I can't in good conscience vote to prop up local businesses with your tax dollars.  Tax abatements, improving infrastructure and sustaining a strong economic development effort for Whitley County are all important but giving money away is not fundamentally what I believe government is intended to do.

I'm continuing to learn a great deal in my role as County Councilman and want to hear more about what you think.  Please never hesitate to email me your thoughts at jbanks@whitleynet.org.  As a side note, if you enjoy reading about county government, I highly recommend you subscribe to the Churubusco News to read Commissioner Don Amber’s column.  Commissioner Amber’s column is informative and honest. I continue to respect him more as I work with him to improve county government and represent the taxpayers.