On Monday, City Manager Darlene Burcham recapped some of the cuts made to this year’s fiscal budget. It included things like no flowers this year, reduced hours at the public libraries, more infrequent mowing of public property, and no loose leaf collection in the fall.
I think most Roanokers understand the need for these cuts. The options before council were rather dire and included major layoffs, tax increases, or other reductions in core benefits.
But I have to admit, these cuts hurt. Our city doesn’t look as pretty this summer. There are no flower pots hanging on one of the many bridges throughout our neighborhoods. There are no flowers in the beds in front of the Noel C. Taylor Municipal Building or in the beds welcoming you to the Gainsborough, Raleigh Court, Wasena, and Old Southwest neighborhoods. And, the grass does look messy.
And, while I have missed all of these things, I imagine I will miss the loose leaf collection the most. Raking leaves is my LEAST favorite activity as a homeowner. In fact, until I used to love fall. But, that changed once I became a homeowner. For weeks and weeks, it seems all I do is collect leaves. And now that the leaf vacuum, as I call, won’t be coming around this year… that job will be even harder. It will make our neighborhoods look unsightly and after a good rain our streets will be slick with wet, matted leaves. I didn’t think I could dread raking leaves any more than I already do, but that changed this year with council’s new budget.
Still, we have to all suck it up. I’d rather have to rake my leaves more often than have someone lose their job or for everyone to have to pay more taxes.
Let’s just keep our fingers crossed loose leaf collection will come back sooner rather than later!
Posted by Jay Warren at 09:39 PM. Filed under: main •
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