March 16th, 2017 by WCBC Radio
Cumberland Mayor Brian Grim took to social media Thursday afternoon with strong criticisms of the budget plan released by the Trump Administration. On his Facebook page, the mayor says Trump is proceeding with what he calls a damaging and destructive agenda. He points out that the budget presented directly impacts the City of Cumberland. The most damaging aspect of the President’s budget, he says, is the intention to eliminate CDBG (Community Development Block Grant) funds. Grim says CDBG funding has been critically important for the city of Cumberland given its dire financial position. He points out that in recent years, the City has obtained in excess of $1 million per year in CDBG federal dollars. Those federal tax dollars have created jobs, assisted the YMCA, provided housing support including to assist in new home purchases and population growth as well as infrastructure projects ranging from street paving and sidewalk replacement to retaining walls. On top of rising healthcare costs, declining assessments, and growing demands, President Trump, Grim says, will now cut Cumberland CDBG funding COMPLETELY – which would be a loss of somewhere between $700,000 and $1 million per year. Councilman Seth Bernard posted a Facebook commentary expressing similar concerns.
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