Your Opinion: Think outside the box

Dear Editor:

I would like to congratulate the Jefferson City Transformation Campaign. They put their money where their mouth is. They raised at least $79,000 in a short period of time. They applied this money toward the Transform Jefferson City tax vote. For better or worse, the tax was voted down.

Are taxes the only way to raise this money? I would like to suggest otherwise. The $79,000 could have been applied directly to one or all of the 30 projects. It was not. Future donations could be applied directly toward Transformation projects.

It would take a fundraiser, of this magnitude, every week for the next 10 years to raise the desired $40 million. Is this likely? Perhaps not.

What about matching grants? Transformation could offer dollar-for-dollar grants toward individual projects. Those who believe in a certain project could donate in that direction.

What about a bake sale? Obviously not enough. What about rummage sales, gala events and chicken dinners? Many small fundraisers could add up.

Transformation people are urging us to think outside the box. They are suggesting that we learn to think beyond business as usual. They are urging us to transform the City of Jefferson.

I am urging the Transformation people to think outside the box. Are taxes the pathway? What about naming rights? How about the "Mr. Transformation Exhibition Center" for a small donation of $1 million or the "Ms. Transformation Nursing School Center" for a similar donation.

Taxation is not the only pathway. There are other approaches.

In future letters I will discuss other Transformation projects needed by the City of Jefferson.