As I have been reporting over the last week, lobbyists, local governments and the state have been scrambling to put together a comprehensive list of so-called shovel-ready projects in anticipation of the passage of the President Barack Obama’s stimulus package. And while all of these groups are struggling to hit the mark on a moving target — the economic stimulus package has not even been passed into law yet — one rural community leader told me the proposal would hurt rural communities.
 
Scott Carie, president of the village council of Elsie, Mich., population 1,055 and located in northeastern Clinton County, said the way the proposals are written now, particularly in reference to water and sewer work, won’t help his community.

“They are loans for improving our water system and sewer. They are just loans. Well, loans are great but how are you going to pay them pack without raising taxes? That is my concern.”

Carie pointed out the water system in his village dates back to 1937 and is in need of upgrades. The village’s sewer system was upgraded in 2002 and the village is still paying off that upgrade, he said.

The village has an annual operating budget of $680,000, much of it going to retire debt.

I’ll continue to follow and report on this area of concern as the economic stimulus package continues to move through the Congress.