To the editor:
Here is what economic development means to me: “The efforts put forward to induce, encourage, stimulate and support business growth within our community, which in return creates increased living standards.” We all realize the driving force or backbone of any community is small business, and with business growth will come new housing starts, and new citizens, along with increased tax dollars. Some folks feel that Caribou is now a bedroom community, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing, but I personally have not given up on Caribou being a business community as well. Some folks feel that we are destined to be a government service center and maybe someday we might just be, but currently I still see Caribou as a viable business community. Government service centers are fine, but remember, they are at the mercy of the very government that put them into a community, and they can be plucked out as quickly as they were put here. Now I realize ”talk is cheap, it takes money to buy a jug” and my jug money is invested right here in Caribou in the form of business.
So, when I sit through a budget workshop and the only budget the majority is willing to cut is the CCC&I (Caribou’s economic development arm) — the very entity tasked with the thankless job of trying to expand the business base in Caribou — it leaves me to wonder if the majority understands business at all. Why would anyone with business common sense cut our only link that’s dedicated to Caribou’s business expansion and growth and not cut a dime of the cities’ municipal departments annual budgets, the very budgets that create the majority of the tax burden in Caribou?
Now some feel that having wellness centers, children’s museums, and performing arts centers are necessary in order to grow a community, but I personally disagree; these places complement a community, and are nice to have, but they don’t pay the bills. If times were good and money was an abundant commodity within our community, then even I would say lets splurge a little on ourselves. But in my business eye I don’t see an abundance of anything right now. Times are tough and I believe that it is going to get worse before we start to see better economic times again.
With that being said, I ask you, as prudent taxpayers, should we continue to splurge on the feel good community things, or should we redirect these types of expenditures into an all-out assault on economic development for the city of Caribou through our economic arm (CCC&I)? We are not going to get economic growth in these very competitive industries unless we fully fund it. Communities across the US are starving for economic growth. We, as a community, have to give people a reason to start a business in Caribou or to move an existing business here, and in my experience it is going to take a financial edge along with a simple and easy procedure in dealing with our city office. So where do you, the taxpayer, think our money is better spent: in more inflated municipal growth, or in the private sector thru business growth?
In closing, if you think that the “feel good things” are the way to grow the community, then I would encourage you to go to the Caribou high school and speak to the 2009 graduating class and explain to them why they should stay here in Caribou. Is it because we have the “feel good amenities”, or is it because we are a nice “bedroom community”? If we, as a community, cannot offer good jobs, decent pay, and health benefits for these or future graduates to stay here and start a family, a business, or build a home and grow, then they will naturally migrate to where they can get what they need.
Doug Morrell
Caribou
