GOVERNMENT WASTE

- IOWA -

Date	Individual / State Agency	Who, What, Where?
03/11/05	Des Moines City Council	City Council Rejects Chance to Save $500,000 The Des Moines (Iowa) City Council, which claims to defend the taxpayer, rejected a bid on a water detention basin project because the lowest bid WAS TOO LOW. Apparently the reason was because the low bidder, Saxton, Inc., employs non-union labor, although pressure was invoked on the council by another union bidder and a lobbyist for the Central Iowa Building and Construction Trades. If the bid were accepted, it would have provided ample savings to restore power to 4,200 streetlights, which were turned off last year in a cost-savings move. On March 28^th, the City Council reversed their decision and accepted the bid. The reason they claim it was originally rejected is they were concerned they may lose federal funding, for after all it’s not our money, it comes from the federal government. Herein we have another example of the example of the incestuous and wasteful relationship between local and federal governments, whereby local government will spend, spend, spend, as long as the feds are paying for it. The City Council subsequently reversed their decision and accepted the bid. The reason they claim it was originally rejected is they were concerned they may lose federal funding, for after all it’s not their money, it comes from the federal government. Herein we have another example of the incestuous and wasteful relationship between local and federal governments, whereby local government will spend, spend, spend as long as the feds (your taxes) are paying for it.
04/2205	Polk County	Rising Home Assessments Shock Citizens Polk County citizens were awestruck by an average 8.7% increase in the assessed value of their property. which is in addition to a 10% increase just two years ago. One citizen’s home skyrocketed from $153,870 to $202,000 in just two years, which means he will be paying $70 more a month in taxes. Citizens have the right demand to appeal the reassessment. Government officials estimate that up to one-half will be successful. The politicians used an age-old ploy to justify how the budget was only increased by 1% to $180,000. Although the property tax rate remains unchanged, by reassessing the property value, government rakes in substantially more cash.
04/06/05	Senate Commerce Committee	New Racetrack Wants $70 Million in Tax Breaks Adding to the pandemonium surrounding government’s passion to involve itself in sports franchises and stadiums, the latest boondoggle takes the cake. U. S Motorsport Entertainment is seeking legislature to let it keep $12.5 million in projected sales taxes over the next 10 years of operation. The city of Newton has agreed to put up $12 million to finance the venture, another primary example of government waste. When sports ventures threaten that they will build the facility if they don’t get the tax breaks they demand, SAY GODDBYE! If all governments stiffened their backs, these cutthroats would have no alternative but to fund these ventures themselves.