Salem's Shortfall: Some Tall Thinking

We need to avoid shortsighted solutions whenever an unwelcome revenue shortfall visits our doorstep.

Salem, Oregon from the sky Photo byL Tim King

(SALEM, Ore.) - They say Salem's projected revenues are falling flat.

If I were in Mayor Taylor's shoes, I'd ask the city council to look at the potential areas of community service that lesser-level people convicted of misdemeanors and felonies could fulfill in budget areas in which staff is overstretched.

Some may be for easing city government workloads and others for specified work with contractors. Chief Moore and Lieutenant Okada would likely be part of such discussions.

I'd love to see "rehab" efforts for first-time offenders so they may avoid a lifelong stigma and redirect potential. In view of growing prison populations and added cost, this option needs to be explored and evaluated.

Which can we rate as the costliest public works projects for 2008-09, and can any be curtailed without massive public outcry? Here in West Salem, there may be a way for the state to create a future Route 221A and split expenses.

While I'm not a lawmaker, that would be my thinking.

We need to avoid shortsighted solutions whenever an unwelcome revenue shortfall visits our doorstep.

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NOTE: Lee Coyne is a public affairs columnist who has witnessed a variety of urban problems first-hand, from DC and New York to Roswell, NM and Salem. He invites comments at luckycoyne@yahoo.com.

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