Over the past months, this newspaper has commended the overwhelming generosity of Greater Des Moines’ private citizens and corporations for supporting our area’s cultural institutions.

Tens of millions of dollars have been raised for projects ranging from the Science Center of Iowa to the new downtown Public Library. Just as important, but flying beneath most radar screens, is the money businesses and private citizens contribute to our city’s cultural attractions on an ongoing basis.

In this light, it is particularly troubling to read news, detailed on the front page of this issue, that some of Des Moines’ suburbs are considering cutting the amount of money they give next year to organizations such as the Des Moines Symphony and Des Moines Metro Opera Inc.

West Des Moines and Clive, for example, are considering lopping 35 percent and 15 percent, respectively, off their annual contributions even as the revenues they receive from the hotel/motel tax are projected to rise. Shame on them.

The way we see it, this is just another step in the growing conflict between Des Moines and its increasingly independent suburbs. Many suburban residents are complaining (loudly) that they should keep the use of their tax proceeds as local as possible.

This is being reflected in the budding pattern that’s emerging from projections of funding to the Cultural Alliance, which represents the biggest cultural attractions in Central Iowa, including the Des Moines Art Center and the Blank Park Zoo.

More and more, Des Moines’ suburbs are funding local projects at the expense of the broader institutions that serve all of Greater Des Moines. Of the $672,000 that Altoona expects to collect in hotel/motel taxes this year, it will give less than 1 percent to the Cultural Alliance and Ankeny will give 2 percent of its $439,000. West Des Moines’ contribution is expected to drop to 14 percent from 22 percent.

We’ve heard reports that some communities are using proceeds from the tax to fix roads and to keep property taxes low. These choices are theirs to make, but they’re shortsighted and self-defeating.

For years, we’ve listened to laments about the exodus of Iowa’s young people and other creative talent to cities in neighboring states. This is a serious problem. According to the most recent census, Iowa’s population grew by 0.4 percent between 2000 and 2002. At this rate, the state could lose a seat in the House of Representatives in the next decade.

Cultural attractions add immediate value to any community. Any executive at Meredith Corp. will tell you it would be impossible to hire the level of talent they need without a vibrant arts community.

For our suburban residents, however, the issue continues to be masked by the healthy growth that has been occuring outside Des Moines in recent years. They need to wake up and shoulder the responsibility they bear to the quality of life we all work hard for and deserve.