Problem:
The county commissioners are discussing the annual budget for the county, a small rural community with fewer than 13,000 residents. Among the major priority areas for funding are replacing a very old bridge and maintaining the road that leads to the city with the nearest hospital, 20 miles away. A recent community assessment revealed that domestic violence is a concern (although there are no precise data as to the frequency of incidences or the number of women and children who are in these often life-threatening situations). Gina MacNevin, a community health nurse, has made a request for the county commissioners to include financial support in the annual budget for establishing and maintaining a safe house for female victims and their children. The nurse attends the county commissioners' meeting to make her case for this request. Do you think a domestic violence shelter would be a good use of the county's limited funds? Explain your response.