Inflation is real

To the editor:
    In 2004 the CCC&I went through its last reorganization; and as a board and a city council decided to focus on “business retention” rather than continuing to spend money on business attraction. Beginning that same year, we developed a Scope of Work or a business plan, which is tied to our budget and the calendar year. We have had a Scope of Work each year since it is updated with the input of our Board, which is comprised of nine business members, and two ex-officios: the city manager and a councilor. They are a part of our planning process — just as they are a part of our budgeting process We reduced our appropriation from $235,000 to $155,000 that year. We have remained “flat funded” ever since.
    The CCC&I is the only “department” in the city of Caribou which has absorbed all increased expenses. Those of you in business, or even just citizens (on fixed incomes) understand full well: flat funding is in fact reducing our income – inflation is real. The cost of doing business goes up every year: postage, phone, utilities, insurances, the rent, the cost of the annual events. If you adjusted for inflation, you would see the value of our $155,000 in 2009 – apples to apples, we would need a little over $182,000 just to continue doing business as usual.
    We are at our breaking point in terms of services we provide, and programs we offer. We cannot continue to absorb the costs of doing business as if inflation does not apply. The majority of our members talk to us about the cost of fuel oil, the health insurance they can’t afford, and the rising utility costs. Those costs affect our organization too.
    I have enjoyed my year as president of our Board of Directors, and hope you join me in believing our primary mission (to help the business community within the city) is best served by the representatives of that same business community, now and in the future. Public service is our reason for being here, all of us. I believe we are all trying to do our part to work together to make Caribou a better community. This is the overriding factor which unites us.
    Finally in closing, I want to recognize what seems to be a sticking point with some people: we are not (it’s true) an actual department of the city of Caribou. We are not required to disclose our financials under the Freedom of Access Act, but we do. And we appear on the public notices the same way all other departments within the municipal budget do; so as such, I refer to the chamber as a “department.”
    I encourage anyone with concerns, questions, or comments to stop in the chamber anytime.