The City of Monroe soon will begin its budgeting for 2010. There are certain to be many difficult decisions to make regarding where to spend, and where to cut. Every dollar the city spends must be scrutinized. Return on investment with taxpayers' dollars is critical.
That certainly will be the case for city government's investment in economic development - one of the many points of contention in last year's budget debates. The city significantly reduced its financial commitment to economic development in the 2009 budget. In 2008, the city budgeted for an administrator with economic development expertise and for giving $30,000 to the Green County Development Corporation. Last year, it did not budget for an administrator and reduced its commitment to GCDC to $15,000 after initially planning to eliminate its investment.
The city decided instead to rely on the part-time efforts of the Monroe Chamber of Commerce director for its economic development activities. The city last September reached an agreement to spend up to $15,000 annually for Director Pam Christopher's services - which include consulting with and advising city staff, providing economic development marketing materials and services, and representing the city at state and regional conferences.
What the city's financial commitment to GCDC in 2010 remains to be seen. But there is no movement toward hiring another administrator with economic development expertise. The city currently is considering filling part of the former administrator position's duties by creating a human resources position.
That leaves the city's contract with the Chamber as its primary economic development effort. But is that enough? Is it working?
Those are questions city alderman should be asking during the upcoming budget process. We viewed last year's decisions as "short-changing" economic development. But now those decisions have had nearly a year to be tested. What are the results?
Hopefully, city leaders have established some way to measure the success of their investment in the Chamber director's economic development efforts. Admittedly, such endeavors often are hard to quantify, and results aren't always seen immediately - or even within one year. Strong economic development requires a sustained and consistent effort.
But economic development should be an important priority of city government at all times, but particularly now during a national and local recession. Taxpayer dollars spent on that priority should be used wisely, and there needs to be some evidence of a return on the investment. Aldermen soon should be seeking that evidence, so they can best determine what the most efficient and effective approach toward economic development should be in 2010 and beyond.
That certainly will be the case for city government's investment in economic development - one of the many points of contention in last year's budget debates. The city significantly reduced its financial commitment to economic development in the 2009 budget. In 2008, the city budgeted for an administrator with economic development expertise and for giving $30,000 to the Green County Development Corporation. Last year, it did not budget for an administrator and reduced its commitment to GCDC to $15,000 after initially planning to eliminate its investment.
The city decided instead to rely on the part-time efforts of the Monroe Chamber of Commerce director for its economic development activities. The city last September reached an agreement to spend up to $15,000 annually for Director Pam Christopher's services - which include consulting with and advising city staff, providing economic development marketing materials and services, and representing the city at state and regional conferences.
What the city's financial commitment to GCDC in 2010 remains to be seen. But there is no movement toward hiring another administrator with economic development expertise. The city currently is considering filling part of the former administrator position's duties by creating a human resources position.
That leaves the city's contract with the Chamber as its primary economic development effort. But is that enough? Is it working?
Those are questions city alderman should be asking during the upcoming budget process. We viewed last year's decisions as "short-changing" economic development. But now those decisions have had nearly a year to be tested. What are the results?
Hopefully, city leaders have established some way to measure the success of their investment in the Chamber director's economic development efforts. Admittedly, such endeavors often are hard to quantify, and results aren't always seen immediately - or even within one year. Strong economic development requires a sustained and consistent effort.
But economic development should be an important priority of city government at all times, but particularly now during a national and local recession. Taxpayer dollars spent on that priority should be used wisely, and there needs to be some evidence of a return on the investment. Aldermen soon should be seeking that evidence, so they can best determine what the most efficient and effective approach toward economic development should be in 2010 and beyond.
