April 6, 2006

EDITORIAL

The difficult discussion ahead

Yellow Springs needs to have a difficult discussion.

It involves the Village budget and its financial outlook, tax and utility rate increases and cuts to services and jobs. The discussion also involves creating solutions based on the community’s values and creating mechanisms to engage the public with a straightforward education campaign. It involves diverse groups of people, from Village employees to the Village manager and Council to the public.

All this talk centers on the 2006 Village budget, which includes deficit spending in four of the Village’s main funds — the general fund, electric, sewer and water — and, therefore, has been balanced by using the government’s savings, or reserves. The deficits are caused by expenditures, including capital items, surpassing revenue. And this trend is not expected to reverse next year. Information presented by Mr. Swansen this week showed that the general fund, for instance, is projected to be in the red next year, unless, he said, the Village receives new revenue from a new source or pursues considerable budget cuts.

Two important discussions that occurred during Council’s meeting Monday night show just how challenging, and essential, this community dialogue will be. One debate focused on the 2006 Village budget; the other on a proposed ordinance from Village Manager Eric Swansen to set in place a policy describing how the Village may reduce staff, including through natural attrition, early retirement and, lastly, forced layoffs.

Some villagers expressed support for Council’s initiatives, and others objected to parts of the staff-reduction proposal. Council members and Mr. Swansen were able to explain their thoughts on the budget and pending decisions that the Village must make to address the deficits. The discussions were emotional and tense. More important, they were productive and informative.

Council president Jocelyn Hardman is preparing a proposal for Council for an education campaign about the budget and any tax increases the Village asks voters to approve in November. This effort should include vehicles that facilitate a constructive, informative dialogue, like the discussions that took place at Council’s meeting on Monday.

The interest showed by community members at the meeting was refreshing. The large number of people turning out for a government meeting shows that villagers care, that they want to be a part of the solution, and not just gripe about the problem. Moreover, the differing views expressed during the meeting demonstrate that there is not one right answer, either. Council and Mr. Swansen must tap into these divergent opinions to find the best plan for Yellow Springs.

The dialogue also reinforces this fact: The Village’s budget crunch is a community problem, and it needs a community-generated solution.

—Robert Mihalek