MauryTHINKS

It’s that time of year again. The magical time when budgets are coming into full bloom and our local politicians are debating which programs to cut and underfund. When city and county officials have to crunch numbers and figure out whether they can buy that brand new police car or to fund an inner city improvement program. Such decisions are a real scenario for both the City of Columbia and Maury Count Government. But why? Many claim a number of reasons such as lack of tax dollars, mismanagement of funds, greedy departments, and so on. Costs have risen, tax dollars are down and it’s a sad day in Mudville for all.

The reality is that both the city and the county are overlooking a permanent, viable, and everlasting resource in our community… Youth.

When one thinks about who has the largest spending power and disposable income of the different age groups, the usual assumption is those who are in their middle to late years, aged 45-60, who are either parents or grandparents. That assumption is completely and utterly wrong. The age group that has the most income to infuse into our community is young adults, ages 18-30. What is the one age group the City of Columbia and Maury County do not cater to at all? Ages 18-30. There is nothing for them here. It’s a barren wasteland of poor retail and abysmal activities for young adults. There are no new subdivisions going in for the price range this group is looking for, and no one pays them attention or delivers any respect for age as a whole. Those who have just graduated from high school pack a bag and head to colleges and universities that can support their wants and desires. MTSU attendees joke about Murfreesboro as ‘Little Columbia’ because a vast majority of their friends and peers have left Columbia to go to MTSU. If you haven’t been to Murfreesboro in a while, go, and see what this particular age group has to offer a city. It is booming with every turn. Houses and apartments cannot be built fast enough to handle the load of the largest college in Tennessee. Why? The area caters to 18-30 year olds.

If the students decide to return to Columbia at all (most of them don’t), it is after the age of 35 to raise a family or to be closer to their aging parents. The money that was once used for pleasure and themselves is now being stockpiled and saved for their own children’s college or a retirement fund. The well has gone dry…

This is a plea for the city and county to wake up and realize that senior citizens are not the only group who needs special concessions or attention. Our community desperately needs youth involvement, from all sides. I would know firsthand, because I fall into this group as well. This is also a message for those who are in our age group to take charge and let your local officials know what it is that you want, and what you can do to help. Run for office, get involved, and make a difference for the future. The only thing worse than not speaking up is not caring at all. Together we can finally make a difference for ourselves and our community.

Ross Jaynes

(This has been submitted to the Daily Herald as an editorial)