I know that reporters are not supposed to have opinions about the stories they cover. But the best that we journalists can do is work to keep those opinions out of our stories. I work hard to do that and my editor works even harder at it.
But the first step in eliminating bias from reporting is to recognize it, to know yourself well enough to spot a strong opinion forming, so you can make a conscience effort to keep it out of your story. Often, I will go so far as to tell my editor or a proofreader that I have this opinion so they too can be on the lookout for it.
All of that to say, it is unreasonable and unfair to think we don’t have opinions. Reporters often know more about the subject matter of a story than the people being interviewed.
But the Opinion Page gives me an opportunity to share my views. So, while I am about to share my opinion, please know it has not and will not impact my coverage.
I have strong feelings about public transportation in Union County. Earlier this year, the Department of Human Services released a business plan that would have brought a public transportation option to Union County. It would have expanded the existing program that provides rides to senior citizens and disabled adults.
The plan would have used grant dollars to purchase vehicles, renovate space and hire a director who would have been able to go sell the program to other entities that could have helped fund it.
The next year, the grant dollars would have required a local match. The hope is the director would have been successful in generating sponsorships, a variety of ad revenues and significant contracts that would have covered the local match as well as anything above that.
UCATS, which does not receive direct tax dollars but does contract with senior services, would have used revenue generated through that contract to help secure funding and demonstrate viability.
But several county commissioners don’t like the idea. Officials said the idea was sprung on them quickly.
It should be known, the previous board of commissioners hired the Human Services Department to do the study several years ago and green-lighted the application process. If the new commissioners were blindsided, it was because they didn’t do homework, not because the idea was sprung on him.
More than that, some officials said public transportation doesn’t benefit the county coffers so there is no real motivation to address the problem.
Let me clear this up. There is a need for public transportation options in Union County.
Ask the seniors. Ask those walking along Delaware Avenue each morning. Ask members of the judicial system… or officials at the Hope Center… or the board of developmental disabilities… or the mental health and recovery board… or the hospital… or the health department… or children’s services.
Officials have said they struggle to support the program because it will need more and more money each year.
True enough. Caring for people can be expensive. The jail is expensive, but we have one and we pay for it because it is important. Parks are expensive, but they add to quality of life. Space studies are expensive and we do them every two years. Renovating offices for nearly every office holder and department in the county is expensive, but we are working through the process of doing that.
Union County has enough money in reserve, that it could literally operate for an entire year without collecting a single dime. Coming into 2021, the county had more than $24.57 million in carryover between the general fund and a variety of other specialty funds, while expenses for 2020 were $21.6 million.
Even so, if done properly, this move would take little, or no, money from the county general revenue fund.
It is well past time for this to be resolved. We have a viable plan to help people. We have the resources to do it.
The need is not in question. The plan is not the problem. The timing is not the issue. The resources are not a stumbling block. So, the question becomes, what’s the real issue?
-Mac Cordell is a reporter for the Journal-Tribune.