The recent Hillsborough Street project has been a long and arduous improvement for residents and students in the N.C. State area. When it comes to a close on September 25, there will be two roundabouts, safer pedestrian walkways and more aesthetically pleasing developments. However, some students are questioning how necessary these improvements were. The millions of dollars that went into this project were used in one of the worst times this economy has seen since the Carter era.

Just like the Rally 4 Talley project that Student Government launched last year, this is a necessary project at an unnecessary time. The roundabouts, the new brick on North Campus and the beautification of the sidewalks and businesses looks great, but the larger question is, if spending large amounts of money in a recovering economy really a smart move.

You could make the argument that this project created jobs, but only for a short period of time. “If we really want to see a true creation of jobs, we bring in large companies like the next Microsoft”, said Allen Coin, a junior in English and philosophy. When you are in a time of instability, you want to create security and tangible incentives that people feel confident about. You don’t make money by spending it, you make money by saving it. Pouring in money from the government sounds like a great plan, and it worked during the Progressive movement in the Great Depression. But we’re not in a Depression, we’re in a Recession. The government, whether State or Federal, gets their money from you. You payed in the bill taxes. Basically, you’re stimulating your own pocket.

The plan is not completely incompetent, it makes sense to try and stimulate the economy by shocking it back into place. At this point, we’ve spent enough. If you create tax cuts instead of tax incentives, and give secure jobs instead of temporary ones, people gain money. If people have money, they will feel more comfortable spending money, thus you have stimulated your economy. Of course, it is not as simple as this, but it is a start. Another aspect is that if people have more money to spend, they also have more money to save. Investing in your school, putting some away for a rainy day or saving for retirement is a smart and efficient way people choose to store their hard-earned dollars. Investing is another great way to stimulate businesses because now you have confident shareholders who will invest in small businesses and emerging companies with hopes of raising their share.

This plan is not just relevant to parents, it is relevant to students, too. Students who benefit from the optimism of making more money when they graduate and making or contributing more while in school will spend money on the businesses on Hillsborough Street. It will also open up downtown Raleigh, which is a great and student-friendly area of town that hosts hundreds of events each year, to student spending.

In essence, stimulating your pocket utlimately comes from wisely saving and spending your money, but timing can be everything. The Hillsborough Street renovation was great, but it was a temporary fix. The local economy will need more to help student feel more confident spending money.