We are our brother’s keeper

One of the first stories in the Bible is the one about Cain and Abel. It’s the story where God famously asks Cain where his brother is. Cain answers, “I know not. Am I my brother’s keeper?”

We were reminded of this story earlier this week when Mat-Su Borough Mayor Larry DeVilbiss explained his intention to veto appropriations for state matching grant funds.

The state program in question awards grants to nonprofits through the Human Services Matching Grant Program, and then pays 70 percent of the total requested. But if the borough declines to pony up the remaining 30 percent, local nonprofits cannot access the proffered state grant money.

DeVilbiss said he questions using public money — estimated at $128,000 — to help these local nonprofits do work the borough wouldn’t otherwise.

He says he has a pretty short list of things that he’ll spend tax money on — education, roads and emergency services. He says the borough isn’t in the social service business. True.

But the borough is a better place for the people who live, work and raise their families here because of nonprofit social service agencies like Wasilla Food Pantry, Mat-Su Services for Children and Adults, Family Promise Mat-Su and many others. All of which rely on public funds to some degree.

When a local family’s house burns down, it isn’t borough staff members who respond with vouchers for lodging. It isn’t the borough that operates Turn A Leaf thrift store where local families receive vouchers to replace clothing and winter gear lost in the fire. It won’t be the borough that offers the family emergency shelter if they are left homeless long-term by the fire.

But all of these local nonprofits will be less able to assist folks with emergencies if the Assembly goes along with DeVilbiss’ plan.

We’re not saying the mayor and assembly should engage in a spending free for all. However, in this case we’re talking about $5.20 per $100,000 of property — a little more than you’d spend — without batting an eye — on a large mocha and tip.

How we chose to invest public tax dollars reflects on all of us. We have hungry families, children and seniors now. We have homeless families, children and seniors now.

Eliminating public money for nonprofit groups that work toward the public good does nothing to decrease real problems real families experience in the Mat-Su Valley every day.

DeVilbiss says he opposes spending public money on nonessential things because he’s not willing to foreclose on people’s homes, except for good reason.

What about the people who’ve already lost their homes? Where would Devilbiss’ plan leave them? Who would fill the gap left in families’ food budgets if the Wasilla Food Pantry could no longer operate?

Matching state grants with local monies gives us skin in the game. It says to state grant-giving agencies that we as a community value and support these local nonprofits. It says that as a community we recognize the valuable safety net the Valley’s network of nonprofits provide all of us.

It is frugal and a good use of public funds to accept grants like these where the state pays 70 percent. It is frugal and smart to pool our resources and support nonprofits that provide cost-effective services to people in need.

“I don’t think it’s charitable to force a property owner to make a contribution to a charitable nonprofit,” DeVilbiss said.

We argue the reverse is also true: It isn’t charitable to ask families who are already homeless to go hungry, too. Using the phrase “fiscal responsibility” before cutting off grant funds to nonprofits that serve the least among us does nothing to absolve us of our God-given responsibility to our neighbors.

Remember Cain and Abel? Whether times of feast or famine we are our brother’s keeper.