In recent months federal, state, county and local governments have been laying off employees and cutting back services. The state Legislature has approved a property tax cap, which will result in even more layoffs in the coming years.
Every layoff has a ripple effect, creating more unemployment. One approach the federal government should take to address our unemployment problem is to provide assistance to local governments to fix our infrastructure. Century-old water mains at the local level are breaking, underground drainage pipes are collapsing nationwide and many of our bridges are structurally unsafe. Local, county and state governments are not allocating adequate resources to correct this national problem.
In addition, they are not appropriating the necessary funds needed to repave potholes and decaying roads, or to maintain older government buildings. When elected officials are given a choice of cutting a popular recreation program or delaying a repair job, what do you think will be cut from the budget?
We can get by and delay infrastructure needs temporarily but sooner or later our crumbling infrastructure will become a major crisis. Structurally unsafe bridges that collapse and cause injuries or fatalities also result in expensive litigation and damages to governments responsible for the outcome.
Our Congressional representatives could help create jobs, reduce the unemployment problem and address important infrastructure needs by setting aside significant dollars to local, county and state governments and school districts for our infrastructure. The ripple impact of a national infrastructure-maintenance program would be enormous on job creation. Architects, engineers, secretaries, lawyers and contractors would be hired.
This is what is needed during this Great Recession.
