Michigan Department of Transportation passing even more cost through to taxpayers.
The failure that is Kirk Steudle and the Michigan Department of Transportation continues to demonstrate that it cannot plan nor manage taxpayer funds efficiently.
RightMi.com readers might recall that the MDoT has been spending taxpayer dollars to babysit equipment that other people own. In the last few years, it has amounted to a drop in the bucket when compared to what is a bloated state budget of 52+ billion smackers, right? But buckets eventually fill from all the droplets as we all know, and the spigot in this case is opening more. From the Lansing State Journal:
At the current lease rates, that means MDOT would have to sink about another $4.4 million into lease charges before it is able to put the cars into service.
That line is sufficient to point out that Steudle’s comment earlier in the year was nothing more than lip service.
“These cars are costing us money right now and we’ve got to figure out how are we going to … stop the bleeding,”
As the old joke goes .. “Whats this ‘we’ s##t Kemosabe?”
(17)Nuh Uh.
(0)
I suppose this ALSO falls under the ambiguous heading of "other transportation purposes"...as described in the eloquently written piece below:
PROPOSAL 15-1
A proposal to amend the State Constitution to increase the sales/use tax from 6% to 7% to replace and supplement reduced revenue to the School Aid Fund and local units of government caused by the elimination of the sales/use tax on gasoline and diesel fuel for vehicles operating on public roads, and to give effect to laws that provide additional money for roads and other transportation purposes by increasing the gas tax and vehicle registration fees. The proposed constitutional amendment would:
Eliminate sales / use taxes on gasoline / diesel fuel for vehicles on public roads.
Increase portion of use tax dedicated to School Aid Fund (SAF).
Expand use of SAF to community colleges and career / technical education, and prohibit use for 4-year colleges / universities.
Give effect to laws, including those that:
Increase sales / use tax to 7%, as authorized by constitutional amendment.
Increase gasoline / diesel fuel tax and adjust annually for inflation, increase vehicle registration fees, and dedicate revenue for roads and other transportation purposes.
Expand competitive bidding and warranties for road projects.
Increase earned income tax credit.
...along with $112 million (more) for Detroit's two bus lines and $90 million (more) to subsidize the "People Mover"....
That on top of $192 million to secure and complete the Detroit bankruptcy, and $261 million STOLEN from the State Education Fund to finance the new Red Wing arena...(which is why the $300 million 'education' funding in this is a total lie...)...
Do you see a 'trend' here???...
Yes, sir!
So, how y'all like your Nerdy CPA with a law degree, now?
Even the Fat Man in magic underpants knew when it was a good time to bail.
Lansing is nothing but payola for connection$.