We’ve heard about the massive cutbacks in the federal budget and even perhaps the end of the national health plan. The stimulus money was sent to the state, and that money is gone. We are still left with a huge state deficit that will demand larger cuts than have been seen in generations.

King and Pierce counties have cut budgets, knowing that what they have done to date is just a start.

Cities have been cutting budgets since 1996 when the anti-government initiative wave began. Cities worked hard to keep up service levels with fewer dollars and a growing population wanting those services. Cities, the most basic and innovative level of government, are running out of ideas.

Road repairs are coming to a halt, the infrastructure of the state is very slowly becoming antiquated and the need for public safety is increasing. Sounds like a grim picture, doesn’t it?

But this isn’t the first time in our history that this has taken place. It is not the end, but a time to regroup, verify what we have and how to move forward.

The first things to lose funding have been human services. All of the levels of government above the cities are cutting back or eliminating funding for those most in need. But here there is hope.

A short time ago, more than 700 of us went to a benefit breakfast for Auburn Youth Resources and raised more than $55,000 that morning to help our children in need. The Miss Auburn Scholarship Program was held Feb. 5 and its president, Councilmember Nancy Backus, announced that they awarded more than $54,000 in scholarships for young women in our community. Just over a week ago the Soroptimist International of Auburn held its annual fundraiser to help women and children in Auburn and raised $34,000. In a period of one month, your community raised more than $143,000 for our own people.

This isn’t a group of wealthy people donating at a fancy dinner, but hundreds of your neighbors in this blue-collar town donating small amounts to help those worse off than them. Our human service agencies and non-profit organizations have been seeing this resurgence of caring for those here at home, but it’s not enough.

We also need to see organizations continue to come together so that those in need can go to one site to find the services they require.

There is still more to be done, and our non-profit organizations and agencies must work closely together with a much higher level of cooperation to get the very most out of every dollar they receive.

I work with the pastors of our churches, and our faith community wants to help in this time of need. There is a desire to bring together all in our faith community so that each knows what services might be available.

I’ve been working with the Auburn School District and Green River Community College to find new ways right now to provide our children a real step up to get ahead while providing for more activities to keep our teens away from gangs.

In addition, it was the City of Auburn that brought the Small Business Assistance Center here. The SBAC is run by Green River Community College and we need to have a new commitment to the people and businesses right here to put more people in Auburn back to work here.

The Auburn Area Chamber of Commerce must take a leadership role in areas like international trade brought to them by your city because of a 50 year old Sister City relationship with Tamba, Japan. Task forces today need to be about retaining and expanding current businesses, international trade and developing plans to bring in new business to our community. We need a relationship that puts more and more of our people back to work. The city is committed to assist, but the leadership must come from the Chamber.

We cannot expect the state government to give us more funding. But all of us, as individuals, can ask them for two things. First, don’t drop any more financial responsibilities on the cities. That’s happened for 15 years now and there isn’t much more our cities can take.

Second, ask them to stop resisting local options. That means they should allow for new legislation requested by cities that allows cities to ask their own citizens if they want a service and how they want to pay for it. That’s been resisted by both parties and allowing our people to vote just for our town should be viewed as the best government practice.

These things and more can be done right now and make a difference for so many. You can help. Contact your state senator or representative, work with a service club, your church, the Chamber or school district. Get involved today.

Together we can do so much more. We are moving forward, but we can do more to help so many if we find new and better ways to work together.

Reach Mayor Pete Lewis at 253-931-3041 or plewis@auburnwa.gov.