Just a few days ago we posted an article about the new
"grave robbers" department of our State government. The State budget is in
such bad shape that the State government is going to start "recovering"
nursing home resident's houses.
Two years ago the budget was in such bad shape that Perdue
traded a Vote on Our State Flag for a tobacco tax.
Just a few months ago the State was cutting Hope
scholarships and funds for public schools but was in such good financial shape
that it could guarantee millions of dollars to handle Atlanta's overflowing
sewers.
But today, the State has so much money that it can once
again come to the aid of an urban project to bail out another greedy Chamber
backed project. This time to the tune of $1,400,000.00. For a fish tank!
Lets see if we got this right. It was more important to
get a tobacco tax than to Let The People Vote. It was more important to plug
Atlanta's sewers than to fund education or Hope scholarships.
NOW in the New Day in Georgia - it is more
important to bail out Albany's fish tank than to let low income nursing home
residents die in peace.
It may come as a surprise to some, just how many of your
tax dollars the State government commits on such projects. Were you aware that
we have a State government department, with many tax payer paid employees to
administer all of your past, current and future tax dollars? It is called the
Georgia State Financing and Investment Commission.
A brief look at the current obligations on the books is
interesting (from the State's own figures):
Fiscal
Year
Outstanding Principal
Outstanding Interest
Total Debt
Service
2003
-
-
-
2004
-
16,380,721.25
16,380,721.25
2005
535,225,000.00
378,217,678.75
913,442,678.75
2006
571,360,000.00
348,895,607.50
920,255,607.50
2007
578,810,000.00
318,102,666.88
896,912,666.88
2008
510,935,000.00
286,713,835.00
797,648,835.00
2009
508,345,000.00
257,756,415.00
766,101,415.00
2010
525,195,000.00
228,302,572.50
753,497,572.50
2011
507,650,000.00
198,514,291.25
706,164,291.25
2012
474,620,000.00
170,497,625.00
645,117,625.00
2013
421,540,000.00
145,046,548.75
566,586,548.75
2014
369,425,000.00
123,125,543.75
492,550,543.75
2015
373,430,000.00
103,710,715.00
477,140,715.00
2016
324,640,000.00
84,471,845.00
409,111,845.00
2017
297,515,000.00
68,867,082.50
366,382,082.50
2018
295,275,000.00
54,168,746.25
349,443,746.25
2019
264,775,000.00
40,503,281.25
305,278,281.25
2020
228,795,000.00
28,640,641.25
257,435,641.25
2021
200,285,000.00
18,393,102.50
218,678,102.50
2022
136,495,000.00
9,894,790.00
146,389,790.00
2023
70,730,000.00
4,280,315.00
75,010,315.00
-
-
-
-
2024
71,350,000.00
1,292,050.00
72,642,050.00
7,266,395,000.00
2,885,776,074.38
10,152,171,074.38
Blame it on Barnes? Nope, does not work. The following is
the dollars by bond series since the last election.
2003A
7/1/03
19815000
21190050.00
2003B
7/1/03
124965000
184113650.00
2003c
12/1/03
29550000
33242925.00
2003D
12/1/03
439440000
668282125.00
2004A
3/1/04
18725000
20076293.75
2004B
3/1/04
250120000
374978260.00
Anyway, looks like both parties are
pretty foot loose and fancy free with your past, current and future tax
dollars. Take a look at that $10,152,171,074.38. That is about
$2,000.00 per citizen.
Now for the good news, if your property tax bill goes up
this year due to reductions in State funding for schools in your area -
you can go look at the fish your tax dollars are now paying for! Wonder if tax
payers, now major investors in this project, will get free admission?
Now for the bad news, Atlanta is planning an even bigger
fish tank!
ALBANY — Gov. Sonny Perdue has agreed to help the
struggling Flint Riverquarium project with $1.4 million from the
state budget.
That means construction on the $25 million aquarium, which was
stopped earlier this month, will go on.
It's scheduled to open Sept. 3.
"I am thrilled and ready to get the project built and opened up
on Labor Day weekend," said Doug Noble, director of the
Riverquarium.
Perdue met Thursday with community leaders, Albany Tomorrow
Inc. staff members and Flint River Partners to discuss the need
for more state money to finish the project.
"Mistakes were made [with funding], but it's too good of a
project not to complete it," Perdue said, not elaborating on what
mistakes were made.
Riverquarium promoters previously had been counting on the $1.4
million state appropriation for the project. Without those funds,
the contractor ordered workers off the site last week.
The Riverquarium will feature fish and plants from the Flint
River.
"I am very impressed with the creativity and natural way the
Riverquarium is conceived and constructed," Perdue said. "It gives
justice to the Flint watershed region. It gives justice to
southwest Georgia."
David Miller, president of Holder Construction, said work could
resume within two days. "We're going back to work based on the
commitment of the governor and his staff," Miller said.
Thomas C. Chatmon Jr., Albany Tomorrow president and chief
executive officer, said temporary funding will have to be secured
before the state funding comes through. About $422,000 in loan
money will be obtained to fill the gap until the state money is
administered, Chatmon said.
The loan will be repaid with part of the state funding. An
additional $500,000 still must be raised to complete the project,
because a total of $1.9 million is needed.
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contribution is too small and these men are working to provide
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