Anthony Smith: Doing more with less

I remember talking with my parents about life during and after the Great Depression. They had some amazing stories about a time that affected their lives and the lives of generations to follow. The Great Depression was one of those “defining moments” in our history.

Looking back, I believe one of the more lasting effects of that era was the increased role of the federal government in our lives. The misery experienced by many people, and the painfully slow recovery that followed, led many in America to accept and even call for a bigger role for government. This era of federal expansion gave us such “safety nets” as the Social Security system and the idea of unemployment compensation. As we move towards Obamacare, are we experiencing a similar social and cultural change as we escape the effects of the “Great Recession”?

I am a firm believer we can’t spend our way into prosperity. It doesn’t happen in our family finances, and it certainly doesn’t work in government. In fact, the reality is quite the opposite.

Many of us have experienced less annual income, a shrinking net worth and a higher cost of living. Given these factors, and as leaders in this uncertain time, what should be our creed? I believe it is the same theme I used as mayor: learning to “do more with less.” 

During my time as mayor of the city of Maricopa from 2008-2012, rather than using government to solve all our problems, we found ways to accomplish important programs using fewer government resources. Some real-life examples of how we did more with less include how we managed our community festivals and the support afforded public safety.

Maricopa’s three festivals (Salsa Festival, July 4th and Stagecoach Days) are important events for promoting local businesses, attracting tourism and building a sense of community.

However, the planning and running of these events took a significant amount of city staff resources. It became apparent to me the only way we could take the festivals to the next level, is to let go. A local nonprofit stepped forward to initiate the transition from government-run festivals to festivals that reflect the best ideas and creativity of our community members.