Published by: artie.see(at)gmail.com
Sunday, July 06, 2008
Our State tax dollars at work.
Taxes. A word that stirs all kinds of feelings in all kinds of people. The most common reaction to the word "taxes" is "too high". Politicians of every description would lead us to believe that they are doing everything humanly possible to reduce our tax burden.
How are the politicians actually spending our tax dollars?
A good example of government spending is Pennsylvania House Bill 1589, Session of 2007, for the budget year 2007-2008. Originally introduced by Democrat Rep. Dwight Evans of Philadelphia, chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, this bill was later greatly expanded in the Senate Appropriations Committee by its chairman, Republican Sen. Gib Armstrong of Lancaster County.
This bill includes funding for over two thousand items and projects all across Pennsylvania. It is important to note that each revision of the bill, identified as "Printer's No.", includes more and more funding for specific projects, or "earmarks". The most recent revision, Printer's No. 3496, includes the greatest number of items that fall outside of the usual functions of State government.
Included in this bill are 42 items for Lancaster County. Here are a few of the more interesting ones (some descriptions edited for space):
- DEVELOPMENT OF A RAILS-TO-TRAILS PROJECT IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE LANCASTER COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION, MANOR, CONESTOGA, MARTIC, PROVIDENCE, EDEN, BART AND SADBURY TOWNSHIPS, QUARRYVILLE BOROUGH AND THE LANCASTER COUNTY CONSERVANCY $9,000,000
- COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER AT LANCASTER GENERAL HOSPITAL $2,500,000
LGH's had an operational surplus of $136,771,421 in 2007-2008. Why does LGH need taxpayer dollars?
- STEVENS-SMITH HISTORIC SITE PROJECT $6,000,000
A part of the hotel and convention center project, this was supposed to have been funded with contributions through the Historic Preservation Trust.
- CAMPUS OF HISTORY FOR THE LANCASTER COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY $9,000,000
A very big chunk of tax money for "a private non-profit membership organization".
- BUILDING A NEW FACILITY, INCLUDING A PLANETARIUM AND EXHIBITS AT THE NORTH MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY AND SCIENCE $3,000,000
Located on the campus of Franklin and Marshall College, the North Museum has no space to expand and attract more visitors.
- SITE PREPARATION, INFRASTRUCTURE, CONSTRUCTION AND OTHER RELATED COSTS FOR THE CROSSINGS AT CONESTOGA CREEK PROJECT, INCLUDING CONSTRUCTION OF AN INNOVATIVE STORM WATER MANAGEMENT AND WETLAND ENHANCEMENT FACILITY $10,000,000
Why does a private $100 million shopping center need $10 million taxpayer dollars for "site improvements"? Why can't High pay for their own site work, like other developers have to?
- ADDITIONAL FUNDS FOR THE COMPLETION OF THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THE HISTORIC WATT & SHAND DEPARTMENT STORE AS PART OF THE LANCASTER COUNTY CONVENTION CENTER/HOTEL PROJECT $6,000,000
This is the money requested in November of 2007 by LCCCA chairman Art Morris, who discovered that the construction budget approved by the previous board didn't adequately plan for cost overruns.
- NEW FACILITY FOR THE LANCASTER YMCA $6,000,000
Another large taxpayer subsidy for another private nonprofit organization.
- RESTORATION OF THE HISTORIC MONTGOMERY HOUSE $1,250,000
The Montgomery House is being integrated into the hotel and convention center, and will be used as hospitality space by the hotel. This money is nothing more than yet another government handout for the Penn Square Partners.
- ACQUISITION, CONSTRUCTION AND OTHER RELATED COSTS FOR THE LANCASTER COUNTY PERFORMING ARTS CENTER PROJECT $15,000,000
Fifteen million dollars for a project that has never been announced to the public. Most likely, the downtown "performing arts center" project is already a done deal.
- ACQUISITION, CONSTRUCTION, INFRASTRUCTURE AND OTHER RELATED COSTS FOR NEW COUNTY JAIL $25,000,000
Twenty-five million dollars for a project that hasn't yet been publicly considered by the Lancaster County Commissioners.
There is also funding for other Lancaster County government projects, such as these:
- ACQUISITION, CONSTRUCTION, INFRASTRUCTURE AND OTHER RELATED COSTS FOR A CHILDREN AND YOUTH FACILITY $5,000,000
- CONSTRUCTION, INFRASTRUCTURE AND OTHER RELATED COSTS TO RENOVATE COUNTY OFFICE BUILDINGS, INCLUDING THE 40 EAST KING STREET FACILITY $10,000,000
- CONSTRUCTION, INFRASTRUCTURE AND OTHER RELATED COSTS TO RENOVATE THE COUNTY COURTHOUSE AND RESTORE THE OLD COUNTY COURTHOUSE $10,000,000
- ACQUISITION, CONSTRUCTION, INFRASTRUCTURE AND OTHER RELATED COSTS FOR A NEW FORENSIC CENTER $5,000,000
A few other projects are worth mentioning:
- ACQUISITION, INFRASTRUCTURE, REHABILITATION AND CONSTRUCTION OF THE COLUMBIA FIREMAN'S MUSEUM $4,625,000
- EAST COCALICO TOWNSHIP
(A) ACQUISITION, INFRASTRUCTURE, REHABILITATION AND CONSTRUCTION OF A COMMUNITY CENTER ON NORTH READING ROAD $4,000,000
- MOUNT JOY BOROUGH
(A) INFRASTRUCTURE, REHABILITATION AND CONSTRUCTION OF A SATELLITE BRANCH YMCA FACILITY $4,000,000
Since State budget negotiations are still ongoing as this is being written, it is unknown how many items in this bill will survive to become a part of the final Pennsylvania 2008-2009 budget. However, it is safe to say that many of these requests for our State tax dollars will be funded.
The question is, how many of these expenditures are nothing more than pork?
How are the politicians actually spending our tax dollars?
A good example of government spending is Pennsylvania House Bill 1589, Session of 2007, for the budget year 2007-2008. Originally introduced by Democrat Rep. Dwight Evans of Philadelphia, chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, this bill was later greatly expanded in the Senate Appropriations Committee by its chairman, Republican Sen. Gib Armstrong of Lancaster County.
This bill includes funding for over two thousand items and projects all across Pennsylvania. It is important to note that each revision of the bill, identified as "Printer's No.", includes more and more funding for specific projects, or "earmarks". The most recent revision, Printer's No. 3496, includes the greatest number of items that fall outside of the usual functions of State government.
Included in this bill are 42 items for Lancaster County. Here are a few of the more interesting ones (some descriptions edited for space):
- DEVELOPMENT OF A RAILS-TO-TRAILS PROJECT IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE LANCASTER COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION, MANOR, CONESTOGA, MARTIC, PROVIDENCE, EDEN, BART AND SADBURY TOWNSHIPS, QUARRYVILLE BOROUGH AND THE LANCASTER COUNTY CONSERVANCY $9,000,000
- COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER AT LANCASTER GENERAL HOSPITAL $2,500,000
LGH's had an operational surplus of $136,771,421 in 2007-2008. Why does LGH need taxpayer dollars?
- STEVENS-SMITH HISTORIC SITE PROJECT $6,000,000
A part of the hotel and convention center project, this was supposed to have been funded with contributions through the Historic Preservation Trust.
- CAMPUS OF HISTORY FOR THE LANCASTER COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY $9,000,000
A very big chunk of tax money for "a private non-profit membership organization".
- BUILDING A NEW FACILITY, INCLUDING A PLANETARIUM AND EXHIBITS AT THE NORTH MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY AND SCIENCE $3,000,000
Located on the campus of Franklin and Marshall College, the North Museum has no space to expand and attract more visitors.
- SITE PREPARATION, INFRASTRUCTURE, CONSTRUCTION AND OTHER RELATED COSTS FOR THE CROSSINGS AT CONESTOGA CREEK PROJECT, INCLUDING CONSTRUCTION OF AN INNOVATIVE STORM WATER MANAGEMENT AND WETLAND ENHANCEMENT FACILITY $10,000,000
Why does a private $100 million shopping center need $10 million taxpayer dollars for "site improvements"? Why can't High pay for their own site work, like other developers have to?
- ADDITIONAL FUNDS FOR THE COMPLETION OF THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THE HISTORIC WATT & SHAND DEPARTMENT STORE AS PART OF THE LANCASTER COUNTY CONVENTION CENTER/HOTEL PROJECT $6,000,000
This is the money requested in November of 2007 by LCCCA chairman Art Morris, who discovered that the construction budget approved by the previous board didn't adequately plan for cost overruns.
- NEW FACILITY FOR THE LANCASTER YMCA $6,000,000
Another large taxpayer subsidy for another private nonprofit organization.
- RESTORATION OF THE HISTORIC MONTGOMERY HOUSE $1,250,000
The Montgomery House is being integrated into the hotel and convention center, and will be used as hospitality space by the hotel. This money is nothing more than yet another government handout for the Penn Square Partners.
- ACQUISITION, CONSTRUCTION AND OTHER RELATED COSTS FOR THE LANCASTER COUNTY PERFORMING ARTS CENTER PROJECT $15,000,000
Fifteen million dollars for a project that has never been announced to the public. Most likely, the downtown "performing arts center" project is already a done deal.
- ACQUISITION, CONSTRUCTION, INFRASTRUCTURE AND OTHER RELATED COSTS FOR NEW COUNTY JAIL $25,000,000
Twenty-five million dollars for a project that hasn't yet been publicly considered by the Lancaster County Commissioners.
There is also funding for other Lancaster County government projects, such as these:
- ACQUISITION, CONSTRUCTION, INFRASTRUCTURE AND OTHER RELATED COSTS FOR A CHILDREN AND YOUTH FACILITY $5,000,000
- CONSTRUCTION, INFRASTRUCTURE AND OTHER RELATED COSTS TO RENOVATE COUNTY OFFICE BUILDINGS, INCLUDING THE 40 EAST KING STREET FACILITY $10,000,000
- CONSTRUCTION, INFRASTRUCTURE AND OTHER RELATED COSTS TO RENOVATE THE COUNTY COURTHOUSE AND RESTORE THE OLD COUNTY COURTHOUSE $10,000,000
- ACQUISITION, CONSTRUCTION, INFRASTRUCTURE AND OTHER RELATED COSTS FOR A NEW FORENSIC CENTER $5,000,000
A few other projects are worth mentioning:
- ACQUISITION, INFRASTRUCTURE, REHABILITATION AND CONSTRUCTION OF THE COLUMBIA FIREMAN'S MUSEUM $4,625,000
- EAST COCALICO TOWNSHIP
(A) ACQUISITION, INFRASTRUCTURE, REHABILITATION AND CONSTRUCTION OF A COMMUNITY CENTER ON NORTH READING ROAD $4,000,000
- MOUNT JOY BOROUGH
(A) INFRASTRUCTURE, REHABILITATION AND CONSTRUCTION OF A SATELLITE BRANCH YMCA FACILITY $4,000,000
Since State budget negotiations are still ongoing as this is being written, it is unknown how many items in this bill will survive to become a part of the final Pennsylvania 2008-2009 budget. However, it is safe to say that many of these requests for our State tax dollars will be funded.
The question is, how many of these expenditures are nothing more than pork?
