In his first budget, Mr. Ireton has proposed completely cutting the City’s funding for the Maryland Food Bank and the Village of Hope, which are non-profit organizations that furnish essential services to impoverished residents of Salisbury. Last year, almost 500,000 pounds of food were distributed by the Maryland Food Bank, including hot meals to children in after-school programs. It requested $5,000, which Ireton has totally unfunded in his proposed budget.
The Village of Hope requested only $2,000, also completely unfunded by Ireton despite its program that provides medical care to the uninsured poor and essential skills training to homeless women.
At the same time Ireton wants to maintain nearly the same level of funding for the Public Access Program (PAC-14) despite its recent reorganization to become more self sustaining rather than depending almost entirely on funding by the City and County governments. If Ireton would reduce funding for PAC-14 to the sum it received from the City in FY2009 ($91,500) that would generate sufficient funds to fully cover the requests by both the Maryland Food Bank and the Village of Hope.
Another means to generate those funds is cancellation of the proposed pay raise of almost $10,000 that Ireton has proposed for the Assistant City Administrator, Lore Chambers, who he wants to reclassify from pay grade 12 to 15 and a minimum salary of $61,000. That would be obscene in light of the hit being made to most other City personnel.
It will be interesting to see if Louise Smith or Shanie Shields (who is now on PAC-14’s board of directors if you can imagine that) will vote to provide City funding for the Maryland Food Bank and the Village of Hope. We can count on Debbie Campbell and Terry Cohen to do the right thing, as usual.
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
29 comments:
It should be noted that Vilage of Hope asked for a 1 time contribution last year for a new refrigeraotor or freezer, and Vilage of Hope was added to help ease the financial burden from a water bill.
As for PAC 14 cut them to whatever covers the cost of broadcasting city meetings. Do they forget that the city owns the equipment? Didn't they want to restructure so that they could fundraise? Go fundraise.
If I want to donate my money to the Maryland Food Bank and the Village of Hope that's one thing but I don't want to be forced by the city (with my tax dollars)to do so.
10:04, I think you meant Maryland Food Bank with the freezer.
Organizations are very worthwhile (I donate), but they should focus on the basics. I'm horrified by the police furloughs while asking for paper pusher raises.
Ms. Chambers should take the hit like the rest of the citys workers. There should be no raises for anyone in these tight financial times. The Mayor has $500,000 proposed for the River Walk which would cover many other needs. The River Walk is just fine as it is. Be wise and provide essential services like police,fire and ambulance service. This man has no idea what he is doing.
He should of given them that money with no hesitation.
From what I hear the last fundraiser for Village of Hope $50,000.00 was raised. I dont mind helping them fundraise BUT I dont want the tax dollars to be paying for it. There a alot of 501C3 non profit organizations in town. If our freezers go up we find a way to replace it. We dont depend on our government to supply money for anything! As for PAC 14 the city should ONLY pay for the time we use it NOT the entire thing. Lori Chambers should NOT get a whopping big raise when we are told our policemen are going to be furlowed! NO raises for anyone! Jim and council get your heads out and do your job! You are not thinking clearly now. Wake up!
I quess Jim thinks a new multi million dollar library is more important than hungry children.
10:09 -- If you really "don't want to be forced by the city (with my tax dollars)" to donate to those worthy causes, why are you not complaining about the money that Ireton wants the City to give to PAC-14 and "Urban Salisbury" (downtown business group)?
Ireton is a fool in sheep's clothing -- baa, baa, baa.
wouldn't you guys normally consider the support of these two organizations "socialism"?
The pay raise that Ireton wants to give Lore Chambers is outrageous and will really kill morale among the City personnel, especially police and fire. PAC-14 gets way too much money from the City.
That he would not fund the food bank and Village of Hope is beyond belief.
11:28 --
just like the support of PAC-14 and Urban Salisbury is "socialism," right!?
11:28 not when kids are involved. They didnt get a choice in the hand they were dealt.
"Hungry children" get enough of my money and service for FREE!!! tell their parents to get a JOB!
Our family makes donations to numerous charitable organizations, all of which do a terrific job, as does the food bank and village of hope.
The government, neither city nor county should not take taxpayers money and give it to any charitable organizations. They take our taxes and we have to pay them, but that money should only be used for what it costs to run the government, not nonprofit organizations, too.
Maybe one of the local churches will stand up and donate the needed funds...
11:49 --
Does it bother you that the City dumps dollars into "Urban Salisbury" to placate the Greater Salisbury Committee and downtown plaza owners year after year? And what about that huge pay raise for Lore Chambers?
Better them than poor kids and the homeless -- let 'em starve, right?
11:49 I agree wholeheartedly. The City should not be in the subsity business of playing robinhood. Why must the City continue to take and take from its employees to give to people who don't give a damn. they already play landlord with the mitchell landing apartments that they run at a loss, why do we need to throw any more money away.
some of these comments are simply astonishing.It is hard to believe that people could be so callous as to begrudge a helping hand to people who are in need....especially children who are in need through no fault of their own.When did tax dollars become more important that basic humanity?
Ireton's decision in this case is shameful.
I have seen firsthand, some of the waste and foolish decisions The Food Bank has done in the past. Unless someone oversee's this operation a little better, my vote is no. ..and a louder "NO" on the raise!
thanks sbynews readers. I have alot more respect for the fiscal conservatives than I did before. My sentiments are if you are against "socialism" in the form of support for these programs don't back down because of the "the children" argument. While I don't agree with your view, I can see where you are coming from and respect your argument.
500 thou for a sidewalk that usually only gets used by the homeless guys under the bridge!! And to even consider that while asking our cops and fire/ems folks to take what amounts to paycuts while "reclassify" others!? Stupid and unimaginable! Take that help you brought back to wherever you got it from Mayor Loserton. We don't need your kind of help.
The council cut the raises from the budget, it is in the daily slime today.
The council cut the raises from the budget, it is in the daily slime today.
I sure hope that stays true, no raise for lore chambers. That would be a sin in this economy.
Keep watching, they always seem to find a way in through the side door.
where in today's paper, i don't see where the raises were cut
If you want food, get a job.
If you want medical care, get a job.
IT IS NOT MY RESPONSIBILITY TO GIVE EVERYONE FOOD AND MEDICINE, take care of yourself! My tax money should not be spent on crackheads who refuse to work.
well, lore needs it more.
same old, same old!
I could live off of lore's pay raise...in fact I very nearly am.
Go fundraise, all of you.
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