Marathon County logo. MWC file photo.
CONLEY COMMENTARY (WSAU) – If you are the founder of a charity, be prepared to raise money for your cause. Charities are just that; they are private groups that help people.
Marathon County’s Board of Supervisors took a hard look last week at taxpayer dollars that it gives to charities. Of course, they are worthy causes. But the real question is are they taxpayer funded activities.
One group that is facing cuts is the Women’s Community. They provide a very necessary service: they offer emergency shelter to women and children who are escaping abusive relationships. This is the work of angels. But they provide service that I do not support, like legal advocacy. If a woman chooses to get a divorce, they provide services to her as the case goes through the court system. Those are services that a man does not have access to unless he hires a private attorney. It’s one of the reasons that (non abusive) men have such poor outcomes on matters of child support, visitation, and alimony. This should not be a taxpayer funded activity. It should be through private fundraising. The Women’s Community already enjoys broad charitable donations from across the community for their work.
Judicare may also face budget cuts. They provide low or no-cost legal services to the poor. But most of their cases are civil, not criminal. If someone is accused of a crime, they already qualify for a taxpayer-funded public defender. Marathon County taxpayers should not have to pay for the poor’s lawyers in non-criminal matters.
North Central Community Action provides housing assistance to the poor. The Nurse Family Partnership Program serves low income mothers with newborn children. These are duplicative services. Federal and state government has many programs that provide housing and women and children assistance.
The United Way’s 211 community info line could lose funding. The United Way, founded by the National Football League, is the best-funded charity in the county.
The Marathon County Historical Society may be cut. I’m in favor of preserving local history, but is it not a taxpayer funded activity.
And, remember, all of these charities already get a huge tax break. Non-profits are exempt from property taxes.
The Marathon County board members who considered these cuts are not cold-hearted meanies, although they’ll certainly be painted that way. Inflation shows no sign of ending its relentless climb. Property owners shouldn’t be asked to shoulder higher taxes for things that are beyond what county government should be doing.
Chris Conley
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