Revenue sharing is the city’s second-largest source of revenue.

The main argument for the cut in revenue sharing is it’s the only feasible way to balance the budget without raising taxes.

Although we understand the value of keeping taxes reasonable and the state’s desire to be fiscally responsible, we can’t simply sign off on this decision as if it were another unfortunate cut. Revenue sharing is a source of revenue explicitly meant to fund services such as capital improvements, police and fire departments — in short, the things that keep us safe.

When the state eventually has to resort to cutting fundamental services such as police and fire, it’s time to step back and wonder if something else can’t be done.

The people of East Lansing deserve to feel safe and those charged with keeping us safe should not be forced to be spread thin. When things that were once considered necessary are considered expendable, maybe it’s time to think about raising taxes.

We appreciate that the city is making the best of a bad situation that, admittedly, is not their fault. Although the cuts likely won’t allow the city to purchase any new equipment or hire any new positions, it’s a smart move by the city to leave a few positions unfilled now rather than cut staff later when the stakes are higher. Let’s just hope further cuts aren’t required.

The city has been reassuring, saying cuts will likely result in fewer sidewalk repairs or slower action to fix damaged city property. And at first glance, these cuts likely won’t affect East Lansing residents too much. They’re not supposed to.

But why are these things being eliminated now and being mentioned in the same breath as police cuts? Maybe if the city wasn’t so set on continuing to give financial extensions to City Center II’s developer or stubbornly moving forward with an unnecessary parking structure, the city wouldn’t be strapped with public safety cuts.

Sadly, these further cuts just continue to drive home the fact that things in Michigan are not getting better. Many of us would love to stay in our home state, but these cuts will do nothing but add to the growing number of students who move elsewhere after graduation. Students will not be safe or reassured when fundamental services are put on the chopping block. It’s time the city and state explore new ways to bring in revenue and protect necessary services, because many of us would love to stick around.

When legislators are making these cuts, they need to realize it’s almost as if they are raising a sign telling college students they are no longer welcome.

Even if that means a few bumpy sidewalks.