Prudent government spending should be a given

I was disturbed by reading the July 28 accounts about Cedar Rapids City Council members justifying the extravagant spending in the downtown area, including City Hall.

Councilman Don Karr asked a legitimate question when he wanted to know how renovating the former federal courthouse grew into a $10 million city project. The answers to this question, as well as explanations surrounding financial issues with other projects, were appalling.

The City Council chamber was not simply renovated, but outfitted befitting a crown prince, thus contributing to unnecessary increased costs for City Hall.

Mayor Ron Corbett was quoted as having said, regarding renovation of the Paramount Theatre and building a new central fire station: “Local taxpayers won't pay diddly squat for those two projects. Absolutely zero.” Well, mayor, the taxpayers certainly are paying for these projects. Where does he believe federal and state moneys come from? Taxpayers.

Besides being irresponsible, his disingenuous comments bring into question his ability, and those in his “court” supporting him, to rationally represent our community. The federal and state funds solicited for Cedar Rapids, while small compared to the total budget, contribute to the current, respective budgetary crisis for each entity.

Prudent government spending should always be a given, especially when spending leveraged money. Truthfulness by our mayor in explaining these expenditures must also be an absolute.

David H. Bernhard

Cedar Rapids