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By Scott Tibbs, March 17th, 2004
----Original Message Follows----
From: "Scott Tibbs" <tibbs1973@hotmail.com>
To: gaalc@city.bloomington.in.us, mayert@city.bloomington.in.us, ruffa@city.bloomington.in.us, sturbaumc@city.bloomington.in.us, banachj@city.bloomington.in.us, diekhofm@city.bloomington.in.us, rollod@city.bloomington.in.us, sabbaghd@city.bloomington.in.us, volans@city.bloomington.in.us
Subject: CDBG funds
Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2004 17:32:21 -0500
The Bloomington City Council has allocated $1,240,600 for social services through the Community Development Block Grant funds for 2004.
I have in the past campaigned against approval of another similar social services program because some of the money has gone to Planned Parenthood. If Planned Parenthood applies again, I will lobby you again this summer not to give them taxpayer monies.
But even with no such controversial funding in the CDBG funds, I still think this is a bad idea. I do not believe government should be deciding for me what charitable organizations I should be giving money to. I believe, as an informed citizen, that I can make that decision for myself. But city government (and, indeed, government at all levels) does so and continues to do so.
Many people would gladly donate more of their money to charitable organizations like Martha's House or Hoosier Hills Food Bank. If it were not for the excessive tax burden placed on the people by all levels of government, perhaps more people would be able to donate more to charitable organizations.
City government should focus on providing needed services, like police and fire protection, infrastructure and so forth. Extra items, like funding social service agencies, are best left to the private sector. Other monies should be returned to the people, so we can decide how best to spend our own money instead of you making that decision for us.
Thank you for your time.
Scott Tibbs
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