Danville forestry department nets stimulus money
DANVILLE — Southside will have two jobs created and 12 retained for tree planting, maintenance, removal and inventory projects, according to a news release from the Virginia Department of Forestry.
The department received more than $1 million of federal stimulus money for projects in Southside and the Shenandoah Valley.
Paul Revell, the department’s urban and community forestry manager, said in a news release that $179,000 was earmarked for the Southside Virginia Community Tree Planting Initiative.
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack announced the funding for the state’s projects as part of a series of awards to improve water quality, air quality, wildlife habit, recreational opportunities and forest fire resistance, according to the release.
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So now we have two new jobs created because a program received stimulus money. What happens to those two jobs when the stimulus money runs out? Are those two people out of work again? Not likely. It will mean a higher operating budget for that department. I guarantee that department does not generate revenue. So that translates to more taxes somewhere down the line. Isn’t that nice? And another thing, is spending $179,000 on a tree planting initiative really the best use of taxpayer money in this economy? Elections have consequences folks.
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