The apparent lack of communication between the City of Monroe and the Green County Development Corporation is both unfortunate and counterproductive.
The gap was obvious last Thursday when GCDC Executive Director Anna Schramke made her appeal to the Monroe City Council's Finance and Taxation Committee to restore the city's annual funding of $29,000. Schramke said she was caught off guard by the funding cut, and had heard no "comeback" nor any concerns from city leaders after GCDC presentations.
Monroe Mayor Ron Marsh said there is information he has asked for from GCDC and not received, and he questioned the development organization's effectiveness. He asked, "What have we seen come back in economic benefit" from the city's past contributions?
It's a valid question to ask when taxpayer dollars are involved. The city has been negligent in not asking the question in the past, or putting into place criteria by which to get its answer.
Without clear and specific goals, it is impossible for the City of Monroe to know if it is getting a return on its investment in GCDC. And in not knowing what the expectations are, it's difficult for GCDC to communicate to city government how it's doing.
When Schramke asked Marsh if he thought Monroe would be better off without GCDC, the mayor responded, "I do."
He's wrong. An effective GCDC, in a true working partnership with the city, would be a tremendous asset to Monroe and the rest of Green County.
The committee on Thursday reinstated half of its contribution - $15,000 - to GCDC in its tight 2009 budget. If that contribution remains in the final package, the city's next step must be to sit down with Schramke and establish what both parties agree are realistic and productive expectations for a return on that investment. Those expectations should be criteria upon which future city contributions are made. There should be provisions for the city to return to its full contribution to GCDC should expectations be met or exceeded.
Those clear and specific criteria should be built into a contract, discussed and agreed upon in a public way. These are, after all, taxpayer dollars.
If expectations are met, very positive economic development results should be realized in Monroe and Green County. If they are not, the city will have verifiable proof that its investment no longer is worthwhile.
For that matter, the city should take the same approach to its new partnership with the Monroe Area Chamber of Commerce.
The gap was obvious last Thursday when GCDC Executive Director Anna Schramke made her appeal to the Monroe City Council's Finance and Taxation Committee to restore the city's annual funding of $29,000. Schramke said she was caught off guard by the funding cut, and had heard no "comeback" nor any concerns from city leaders after GCDC presentations.
Monroe Mayor Ron Marsh said there is information he has asked for from GCDC and not received, and he questioned the development organization's effectiveness. He asked, "What have we seen come back in economic benefit" from the city's past contributions?
It's a valid question to ask when taxpayer dollars are involved. The city has been negligent in not asking the question in the past, or putting into place criteria by which to get its answer.
Without clear and specific goals, it is impossible for the City of Monroe to know if it is getting a return on its investment in GCDC. And in not knowing what the expectations are, it's difficult for GCDC to communicate to city government how it's doing.
When Schramke asked Marsh if he thought Monroe would be better off without GCDC, the mayor responded, "I do."
He's wrong. An effective GCDC, in a true working partnership with the city, would be a tremendous asset to Monroe and the rest of Green County.
The committee on Thursday reinstated half of its contribution - $15,000 - to GCDC in its tight 2009 budget. If that contribution remains in the final package, the city's next step must be to sit down with Schramke and establish what both parties agree are realistic and productive expectations for a return on that investment. Those expectations should be criteria upon which future city contributions are made. There should be provisions for the city to return to its full contribution to GCDC should expectations be met or exceeded.
Those clear and specific criteria should be built into a contract, discussed and agreed upon in a public way. These are, after all, taxpayer dollars.
If expectations are met, very positive economic development results should be realized in Monroe and Green County. If they are not, the city will have verifiable proof that its investment no longer is worthwhile.
For that matter, the city should take the same approach to its new partnership with the Monroe Area Chamber of Commerce.
