Agencies Seeking Input From Public

Tue., Nov. 16, 1999

By Gary Crooks garyc@spokesman.com (509) 459-5026

It would be especially encouraging to see leaders and members from the Libertarian and Republicans parties attend such budget-cutting sessions.

Washington voters delivered a powerful message with Initiative 695. Government isn’t listening. It isn’t responsive. Our taxes are too high. And what’s wrong with voting on every tax and fee, anyway? It’s called democracy.

So, taxes will be cut and motorists will enjoy $30 car tabs. But democracy doesn’t end there. Removing $1.1 billion from the budget means many cuts in programs, services and jobs.

Citizens can have a say in how these decisions will be made. After all, it’s our money.

The Spokane Transit Authority, which stands to lose nearly 40 percent of its funding, is planning to hold meetings to decide which bus routes to cut and which of the more than 100 jobs will be eliminated.

You don’t have to be a bus rider to attend and offer budget-cutting advice.

The Spokane Regional Health District will provide the first opportunity for citizens to weigh in when it holds a meeting tonight.

Because of I-695, the Health District will lose an estimated $2.5 million. The agency has some ideas on what to cut but it would like advice from citizens.

Some of the options are:

Stop testing for sexually transmitted diseases.

Stop providing immunizations.

Shrink the Women, Infants and Children nutrition program.

Shorten the hours of staff members.

Lay off public health nurses.

Before you say, “all of the above,” note the benefits of these preventive programs.

For example, the Spokane AIDS network says the anonymity provided by the Health District encourages more people to get tested. And public nurses, the biggest item in the budget, provide services for first-time mothers, low-income families and babies with birth defects.

These will be tough decisions and it would sad if only those who voted against I-695 were left to make them.

The meeting will be at 7 p.m. in the health district’s auditorium, at 1101 W. College.

It would be especially encouraging to see leaders and members from the Libertarian and Republicans parties attend such budget-cutting sessions. Throughout the campaign for I-695, they have noted that state and local governments are spending too much. Now they can point out where.

And this time, the government will be listening.

Local journalism is essential.

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