Lt. Governor Patty Judge will pay a visit to my legislative district this week, and she’ll be bringing a big check… a $250,000 grant will be awarded to the City of Sgt. Bluff to help pay for renovations to the city hall.
It is part of Culver’s “I-JOBS” program – although I have no idea what lasting jobs will actually come about from spending $250,000 to renovate a city hall.
This comes just a few weeks after the Sgt. Bluff school district discovered that they would lose over $655,011 in funding from Gov. Chet Culver’s across the board budget cut.
To the Sgt. Bluff taxpayers it nets out as a $405,011 loss.
Let’s be honest about that. The city may get the grant, and the school district may take the cut, but regardless of the local government entity it is still the same taxpayers who will end up paying more.
Not to mention that those kindergartners whose classroom funding is being cut, will be out of college and may have children of their own, before the bonds that financed that $250,000 grant are paid off by them.
I know, I know… local political types are supposed to turn out, celebrate, and give a big thank you to the Governor’s emissary for their ‘gift’ and largess. I just can’t.
I may be the only one, but to me this is insanity. It shows just how mixed up Culver has his priorities. To give a $250,000 grant that will take 20 years to pay off, meanwhile cutting $655,011 in school aid to the same community which will have to be made up by the property-taxpayers.
It’s the whole budget/bonding fiasco demonstrated in one community.
Iowans deserve better, and that’s why I’m running for Governor. You can join our team, or support that effort by visiting our website here http://rants2010.com/support.aspx
Chris
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