Boxing Program Better Funded by Private Means EDITORIAL Published on: September 8, 2006 CONTINUING COVERAGE   A few verbal punches were thrown, but in the end the Yuma County Youth Boxing Association lost its fight to get additional funding from the city of Yuma Wednesday night.   The debate over the funding started when the advisory panel responsible for recommending uses of federal money given to the city under the Community Developemnt Block Grant (CDGB) program decided to decrease its grant to the boxing group from $20,000 to $10,000.   The Yuma City Council concurred with the recommendation despite pleas from the boxing group supporters to keep funding the program for at-risk youths at the same level.   Although there were some acrimonious remarks about the funding cut, including some that could be interpreted as saying the city leaders didn't care about he needs of the mostly minority youths who take part in the boxing program, in the end it really was an issue of where the funding should come from. No one seemed to reject the idea that the boxing program may be useful in helping at-risk youths. But should public funding be used to do it?   There is a strong arguemtn against providing public (taxpayer) money to help any private group. After all, while it is true that a youth boxing program, for example, may very well be beneficial, is it really a public function like street maintenance or trash collection? The answer is no. It benefits relatively few members of the taxpaying public who are asked to pay for it.   These types of programs really belong in the private domain where generous groups and individuals can voluntarily offer their support and donations, depending on their view of their value. Many local clubs and groups already provide support for youth programs. Churches also often help in these situations.   That is a much better approach to obtaining funding because it is voluntary. The fact that the boxing group hadn't successfully obtained private contributions to replace public money is apparently on of the reasons the council cut funding.   The desire of the council for the group to reduce it's reliance on taxpayer funding is appropriate and perhaps this action will encourage private individuals and groups to step forward and help. © Copyright 2006 YumaSun.com