No one can deny the work Ironton In Bloom has done over the past several years to make the city a more beautiful place to live and work.

All the flower planters and window display contests have definitely enhanced Ironton’s appearance.

The vote made by Ironton City Council members Craig Harvey and Dave Frazer last week to reject adding the civic group into the city’s budget, however, was exactly the right call.

IIB had requested being added to the city’s budget with a line item of $10,000, which was lowered by finance committee members to a $3,000 line item. The final vote failed.

Adding a civic organization to the city’s budget — after passing a storm water fee increase of $3 per every 1,000 gallons of water used less than a month ago — would be unconscionable.

A civic group’s main responsibility is to improve neighborhoods and communities through volunteer work. No municipality should pay volunteers for the work they do to better the community. That is the exact opposite of a civic group.

Adding one group to the city’s stretched budget would set a dangerous precedent.

The city should continue to donate to IIB and any other organization it feels is deserving of its already limited funds when possible.

IIB is no doubt a stranger to hitting the streets for donations and sponsors, just as any other club, such as Lions or Rotary. It’s time for some creative fundraising strategies that can get the community involved in making the city beautiful.

Ironton In Bloom is an important organization to stand behind and we would encourage those who want to see their beautiful work continue to donate, however, its budget should not be dependent on the city’s.