President to propose cuts to community based programs

Next week, the President will release his budget proposal for 2012. As reported in an earlier post, it is expected to include cuts to many programs of importance to local communities.  A recent column in the New York Times by Obama's Budget Director, Jacob Lew gives three clear examples.

In the column, Mr. Lew says the President will call for cuts to the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI), and Community Service Block Grants, a program which once funded the President's role as a community organizer.

Lets look at two of the programs. The CDBG program is well known for financing local infrastructure and community development projects. Its proposed cut is to be $300 million, or about 7.5% of of the total program.  The GLRI will see a cut of $125 million or about 25% of its total financing. This program supports environmental cleanup and protection in the Great Lakes. Such a cut could have a devastating impact on our continuing battle with invasive species

The bottom line is that these are two programs that, year in and year out, have worked to maintain a high quality of life in communities throughout our state...every community, whether big or small, urban or rural, coastal or inland.

The total of the cuts in these three programs will amount to $775 million, not a large sum when the expected federal deficit is expected to reach $1 trillion in 2012, but it will certainly bring to the forefront the negative results that could occur in our communities through reductions in these, and other federal programs.

The President's 2012 budget will be released next week and will no doubt result in a long and protracted debate on priorities. In the meantime, the Congress and the President must still meet a March 4 deadline for continued funding for 2011.

We'll continue to keep you updated as events unfold in our nation's capitol.  Now more than ever, your voices as local officials will need to be heard.

Arnold Weinfeld is Director of Strategic Initiatives and Federal Affairs for the Michigan Municipal League. He can be reached at 517-908-0304 or by e-mail.