Unintended Consequences Abound When Service Cuts Are Made

When budgets are tight, cities reduce services. Deciding which services to cut is always difficult, and cutting too much of one service can sometimes produce unintended consequences.

Cities in the Yakima Valley recognize the downside of cutting parks and recreation services during a time when youth need positive recreation experiences. Kids with too much time on their hands don’t always make good choices. Public comments to the Legislative Work Group on Gang-Related Crime echo these concerns. Everyone recognizes that prevention is key to finding long-term solutions to gang recruitment and activity.

However, Yakima Valley cities were forced to make tough choices.

• Sunnyside recently eliminated the recreation program (other than the pool) as well as nine positions with others left unfilled. This includes two of the four daytime police officers, two recreation positions and one parks staffer.
• Wapato’s parks budget is one-third of what it was several years ago. The city has eliminated all recreation programs and gave up all operational responsibilities for the pool.
• Grandview reduced library and museum hours and limited participation in a summer recreation program.

Grandview Mayor Norm Childress laments the loss of positive outlets for kids. “If kids have time on their hands, especially those already at-risk, they're going to get involved in other types of activities—maybe the kind that leads them into trouble.”

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