Small Town News

Improving economy creating prudent opportunity

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Editorial

It's hard to underplay the good news that Delaware is feeling from rising estimates of incoming taxes and other fees that fuel our state's governnnent. Everyone's holding their breath, not wanting to jinx the positive signs, still feeling so rattled and uncertain about the economic bust rippling through our society.

None of this is happening from a magical shift of the wind. Great efforts have been made to recalibrate, often with serious pain, in the wake of the bust. Everyone understands that we have to rein in the cost of government, live within our means, get our overhead under control, and establish a more sustainable and independent economic model. Delaware has acted responsibly, maintaining its top-rated bond ranking. That prudent approach is paying dividends.

We celebrate Gov. Jack Markell's insistence that extra money not be used to expand government, but rather to fund one-time, job-creating efforts to shore up infrastructure. Onetime investments in technology and advanced equipment to make the state's employees more effective also makes excellent sense. Restoring

funds to our highway department's trust fund to finance the upkeep of our phenomenal road system will keep the system in good shape.

Delaware has plenty of roads. With more effective use of small and energy-efficient buses, we can use this marvelous system to move people wherever they need to go, without the huge cost of building more roads. If people have to walk and bicycle a little more to use such a system, they will be healthier. Just keeping what we have in good shape will keep people working.

Last but not least, this good economic news will allow the state to restore at least $10 million for open space preservation efforts. Delaware leads the nation in the percentage of its land permanently preserved as open space. Adding to those levels helps ensure our important agricultural economy can continue to grow and meet the increasing food needs of the nation's great northeastern megalopolis. Between the agricultural economic benefits, the boost to tourism opportunities and the quality of life that continues to draw visitors and retirees, it's hard to imagine an investment that will create greater long-term return

Cape Gazette editorials are considered and written by members of the Cape Gazette editorial board "which includes Dennis Forney, publisher; Trish Vernon, editor Dave Frederick, sports editor; Laura Ritter, news editor; and Jen Ellingsworth, arts and entertainment editor.





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