As we debate the effects of proposals to pay off the state's debt on local governments and their ability to support vulnerable populations, we should remember that this support is highly leveraged through volunteers.

Thousand Oaks' infrastructure is dependent on thousands of volunteers, who contribute hundreds of thousands of hours of their time and expertise yearly.

These volunteers include coaches, Scout leaders, docents, healthcare workers, school aides, faith-based support groups and scores of others.

When we consider options that involve shutting down entire programs for youths, seniors or disabled citizens or restricting hours of operation of public facilities, we're in effect considering laying off volunteers as well as paid employees.

The contribution of these volunteers must be part of any costbenefit evaluation of budget proposals.

In addition, as we consider cutting back on the hours of operation- or, in some cases, the existence- of libraries, afterschool programs and organized recreational programs, we should remind ourselves that street gangs seeking to recruit our idle and disenfranchised youth won't be cutting back their hours of operation.

Let's not be so shortsighted that we pay off the state's debt today in a manner that requires us to hire more police officers and judges and to build more prisons tomorrow. Nick Fotheringham Thousand Oaks