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Article published Jul 23, 2003
Assistance funds should have been spent directly to
help victims
It seems clear that the city of Spartanburg
misspent money that was collected to help crime victims.
The more than
$58,000 was spent on improving and renovating court facilities and equipment.
That isn't what the General Assembly had in mind when it established the funding
mechanism for direct victims' services.
Court officials can claim that their
facilities and equipment serve the justice system and benefit crime victims that
way, and they're right. But it's a stretch to call court renovations victims'
services.
So the money was not used the way it is supposed to be used. But
Spartanburg residents and state leaders should maintain a proper perspective.
The money was not taken or used for someone's private benefit. It was used on
public facilities.
No one has stolen public funds. And it's highly unlikely
that anyone acted in bad faith. The city is in a very tight financial position,
and city officials, including municipal court officials, are trying to do the
most they can with the resources available to them.
That perspective should
be maintained as victims' advocates come after the city to replenish victims'
assistance funds and redress whatever wrong has been done.
The city is still
struggling to finance city services. Additional financial burdens won't be
helpful. City officials are likely to be willing to reimburse victims' funds if
that is necessary, but any additional expense will put a further strain on the
city's budget.
Whatever is done about the money that has already been spent,
it should be done in recognition of the city's financial condition.
Then the
city must reach an agreement with victims' advocates and state officials about
how money raised for victims can be used and to proceed in the proper manner in
the future.
Money was not spent as the legislature intended, but state
lawmakers themselves have been balancing their budget by raiding special funds
that had been raised for other purposes. The slow economy has spurred creative
budgeting at all levels of government.
State officials and victims' advocates
should remember that as they make demands of the city.