The Clark County Council is diverting more than $3 million in COVID American Rescue Plan Act money to set up a 10-employee public defense office (“Clark County Council approves $3 million in ARPA funds to start public defenders office,” The Columbian, Nov. 15). This appears to be unrelated to the true purpose of this act, that is, economic stimulus as a result of problems caused by the COVID epidemic.
After this money is spent, “the positions will be funded from savings in the general fund.” Really? A governmental bureaucracy actually saving money? Not likely. After another bureaucracy is created, and after the COVID relief money is spent, there will be a plea for additional tax money to fund this office. Here’s a thought: If COVID relief money is no longer needed for its intended purpose, send it back instead of increasing the national debt. But when has a politician ever done that?
