CENTER: Key to balancing budget

The on-going challenge to keep the Lake City Center (formerly Lake City Senior Center) viable presents us a real-life, close-to-home example of what must be done when one's budget is not balanced. I think I am safe in assuming that most of us recognize the importance of this facility in the lives of area seniors. LCC cut expenses and made changes to increase its customer base. In spite of the many positive changes the center has made, it still has come up short and is looking even further for revenue. Seniors themselves suggested a membership fee, a suggestion the management appeared to take seriously.

The real-life economic reality faced by LCC is a good lesson in economics. It seems reasonable to compare this situation to that of our federal government. In order to balance its budget, just like responsible families and businesses, government must not only cut expenses, but also increase revenue. Responsible families and business may cut their expenses to the bone, but to avoid damaging the basic health and well-being of their family members or their ability to serve their customers and stay in business, they search for ways to increase revenue - by taking additional jobs, raising prices, improving customer service, etc. Cutting expenses has been the only option of our Republican Congressmen. Our own personal experience reinforces the common sense solution of not only cutting expenses but also raising revenue. We have cut government expenses until the health and welfare of our nation, because of continuing cuts to education, public health and safety, infrastructure, to name a few areas, are at risk. Social Security and Medicare are imminently in danger of going on the chopping block. (Where would your grandmother or elderly neighbor - or you yourself - be without those social safety net programs?)

I also suspect that, if LCC does institute a membership fee, it will ask other concerned community members - individuals and businesses - to join also as a gesture of support or condition of use of the facility for other purposes, and that LCC will make provision for welcoming even those seniors who cannot afford the fee. The values of care and concern for the needy so clearly demonstrated in this community must extend to the greater common good of our whole beloved country.

PAULA NEILS

Hauser