At a time when governmental bodies at all levels in the United States are making drastic budget cuts in the wake of a severe economic crisis, the City of Charlottesville has proved to be an exception by proposing a budget for fiscal year 2011-12 that features a modest increase in spending. Moreover, the City has shown no signs of backing down from this approach as next Tuesday's budget vote draws near. In fact, several additional spending items were added to the proposed budget during its first reading at Monday's City Council meeting.
Although these budget amendments would leave spending only 1.81 percent higher than at its present level, the City deserves praise for refusing to gut public services while also maintaining level tax rates. Additionally, the University community should welcome the budget's investments in outside agencies, law enforcement and infrastructure improvements that will enhance the area's quality of life as well as available opportunities for student community engagement.
Among the private organizations that would receive money from the City under its proposed budget is the Legal Aid Justice Center, which recently established a three-year partnership with the University's Law School to allow students to contribute to the Center's pro bono legal work. The continuation of the center's work, however, is dependent upon steady financial contributions from private philanthropy and government bodies. Therefore, the $42,000 grant to the center that Council included in its budget amendments is a smart way to channel resources into an organization that benefits students and disadvantaged segments of the community in need of legal assistance.
City Manager Maurice Jones also said the budget fully funds law enforcement. Following a number of assaults against students during the past year, this is an area of particular concern to the University. Jones cited the additional patrols on the Corner that were undertaken jointly by University and Charlottesville Police officers in the fall as an example of the City's commitment to student safety. He also indicated the proposed budget includes funding for such an initiative to be renewed. Furthermore, he said the City is providing grants to help pay for the installation of eight blue light phones in off-Grounds areas frequented by students.
In addition, the budget furthers the City's goal of bolstering bicycle infrastructure. Jones said the City had been working for the past several years to cater to bicyclists and pedestrians, and he noted that "we've addressed a lot of the easy fixes such as adding bicycle lanes." Nevertheless, as evidenced by the tragic death of Graduate Arts & Sciences student Matthew King last spring when he was hit by a City utility vehicle, drivers still need to be made more aware that they are expected to share the road.
The $50,000 for bicycle infrastructure included in this year's budget means the City will be able to expand and build upon its efforts to provide better road markings and signage, as well as bicyclist detection cameras at traffic signals. Jones said the City is limited in its ability to add more bicycle lanes because of its narrow downtown roads, but the goal of the road markings and signage is to facilitate road sharing by communicating to both drivers and bikers the relevant traffic laws that apply in different areas and situations.
Student life at the University will be enhanced noticeably by all three of these budget components. Funding for outside groups such as the Legal Aid Justice Center will open up new opportunities for community involvement among students, as well as broaden their educational experiences while at the University. Investments in law enforcement will make it harder for students to be victimized in off-Grounds areas where they live or spend time on the weekends. Finally, improvements to bicycle infrastructure will make transportation safer and more convenient for students who travel off-Grounds.
Ultimately, students not only must be cognizant of the fact that the City chose to support student welfare in its latest budget proposal, but also they must take advantage of that support by further integrating themselves within the community at large.
Read More
PARTING SHOT: On the art of walking and chewing gum
By Nathan Onibudo | 5 hours agoStudent journalism, and maybe even life more generally, is about holding space for multiple conflicting truths.
PARTING SHOT: Confessions of a nepo baby
By Grace Thrush | YesterdayWhile I can’t point to one specific “aha” moment where I finally started to dispel my self-consciousness and claim my pride for the paper, I got there gradually over the course of my term as managing editor.
PARTING SHOT: Asked and answered
By Honor Wood | YesterdayLooking back, the answer has been abundantly clear all along. I did it for the people.
