Wednesday, May 22, 2013

"Hey, Commissioners! Do the Math!" More Testimony From Last Night

I’m Todd Carter, and I am here representing Hospitality House.

You may choose to not fund us again this year, give us the big fat goose egg - $0, for the third year in a row, but you will pay, one way or the other, for the 225 Watauga residents that we served in 2012.

Let me paint you a picture: Hospitality House has to close its doors; men, women and children begin sleeping in your barns and sheds, camping on your property and living in cars on public property. Eventually, you call the law because these families are trespassing - they’re on your land! Kids are taken from their parents and turned over to DSS, parents are put in jail.

Watauga County pays $64 per person, per day, for everyone at the detention center. Do you want to know what the value of Hospitality House is? $32 per person, per day, is what it costs us to provide food, shelter, and services – and we offer a lot more than the jail! We have continuing education classes, resume workshops, community kitchen, mentoring, and more.

Do the math. It’s your choice, but from where I’m standing, it looks to me like you aren’t doing the fiscally responsible thing for this county or for your budget.

Thank you.

2 comments:

brotherdoc said...

Tell it. This power tripping Commision majority is truly doing the devil's work. I'd like to see Mr. Miller spend about 3 days living/working at H.H. and/or doing a stint at one of the other agencies he wants to undercut, let him see the good that goes forth from them and the people need them and who have little else to depend on. Then let him get all high and mighty about why the people's taxes should not help them out.

Anonymous said...

If you want to attack someone for doing the devil's work (as you call it), then perhaps point the finger at a lot of other people serving as elected officials.