Apoplectic

[Stroller Boy]

At the risk of being unpopular... Sometimes it's not a horrible thing to spend money on non-necessecity in order to grow the tax pie to pay for (or increase the budget for) necessities. The question here is what is their expected return in tax dollars from this money being spent?

Just playing devils advocate here as I've seen the whole "the children are going to suffer" card played when it was bogus as well (easy folks..not saying that's the case here, but have seen it here in CT)...so there are two sides to every discussion. The issue being that it's an emotional topic....so sometimes people don't want to hear that by spending on the b-ball team will actually increase tax revenue to pay for other projects.

Totally not saying that is what's going on here as I don't have any of the numbers on this, just kinda wondering what their ROI for it is... I'm going to go out on a limb and say that the Mayor didn't just wake up one morning and say "hey, ya know what, forget the kids, I LOVE THE NBA!!!" Although, I suppose anything is possible!

Okay, I've my armor and sheild on now....

 

[aaronmckie]

Let me also say I am a sports fan. I watch and enjoy it like many others and I'm willing to pay additional taxes for it. However, not at the cost of necessities. I'd rather see tax dollars spent for necessities first then luxuries second. A pretty simple concept.

My feelings exactly



Oh, forgot to add: you taught me a new word today Pete, thanks!

 

[ericafny]

As a teacher, I have to say this is really awful. In Long Island right now many schools are facing budget cuts because our lovely Governor (Patterson) cut money in two areas that I hold most dear to my heart - education services and services for people with disabilities (medicaid)...HELLO did he forget that he has a disability himself?!?

I just hope Obama does the right thing and leads this country in a more positive direction where we focus on developing the young minds of our future instead of fattening the wallets of the big car companies or those wall street maniacs.

I don't even know if I am going to find a job for next school year...very frightening.

 

[mikelan6]

I don't think that Pete is against spending tax dollars for arenas or things like that. I believe Pete is upset because tax monies that were specifically collected for TOURISM purposes are spent elsewhere.

 

[miss missy]

I am not into sports AT ALL! but can't they combine ballet and basketball and save some cha ching?

stupid is as stupid does

 

[Stroller Boy]

I don't think that Pete is against spending tax dollars for arenas or things like that. I believe Pete is upset because tax monies that were specifically collected for TOURISM purposes are spent elsewhere.

Good point, it is kind of a stretch to say that the Magic will bring in tourism dollars....although, I have been a fan since they started the franchise....still, I wouldn't make the trip just for that! Not unless they get Shaq and Penny (and lil Penny) back!

 

[Disney Khi]

Wow. That's all I can say. This makes me feel mad at the politicians, but also just really sad. What a sad situation when money that should go to help all the people is going to just a few people who play a game. I don't mind paying taxes when I feel like they are going to good use, but this is just a waste.

 

[wilde_oscar]

but its for the children

 

[IWISHFORDISNEY]

That is just outrageous. It makes me so mad to see stuff like this going on. I hope to soon be a Floridian transplant and with a preschool aged child who will be needing school services it is very frustrating to read about such stupid choices. I am right there with you. Maybe you should be a politician since you seem to have some sense and they dont seem to have any!!!

 

[*NikkiBell*]

You know what's really killing me right now - is that the principle's from 5 Orange County schools went to Tallahassee yesterday -hat in hand - begging for them to make concessions in what they cut from the school budget. Really - what does it say about our leaders as human beings, let alone our society at large when a BASKETBALL ARENA is more important than providing a decent education for our children. In an ideal world, the choice would not have to be made, but this isn't an ideal world.

Teachers have a hard enough job - now they literally have to take lamps off thier desks (to save energy) and that's if their lucky enough to not get laid off all together (which is also happening). But a bunch of multi-millionaires that work for a privately owned firm will have a cushy new arena to run around in. Trust me, I'm not a socialist by any stretch of the imagination here - but what's right is right - and this is just plain wrong.

I'm really upset about this. Like "beside myself" upset.

Pete

I knew you'd be right, Pete.

Welcome to my world. As a fifth grade teacher in a very affluent area, we surprisingly experience this all of the time. We are harrassed if we don't turn off the light in our classrooms if we step a few feet away to go to the bathroom. This is so they save energy and money on the electric bill. In fact, this became such an issue that they spent money on signs that say "Please close the light when you leave the room" which custodians were paid to hang in every classroom in the school district. That's just one of the many things teachers deal with on a regular basis. It's sad.

 

[aspen37]

Wow! The whole thing makes me sick. What if someone dies because the fire department got there to late? What are they thinking?
It is so sad that the education of the next generation to lead this country is going down hill fast.

 

[SamIAm21]

Pete,

Are you sure you don't live in Illinois... Chicago, Cook County?? Really sounds like something you might read in the local papers up here!

When, oh when, will people get their FRICKIN priorities straight?? You have ever right to be apoplectic!! I hope a copy of this was forwarded to your County Board.

 

[3DisneyKids]

Oh. My. God.

What are these people thinking???? Oh right...they aren't. Clearly.

 

[wilde_oscar]

Wow! The whole thing makes me sick. What if someone dies because the fire department got there to late? What are they thinking?
It is so sad that the education of the next generation to lead this country is going down hill fast.

it is a pretty big leap from budget cuts to people dieing in a fire... that is inflammatory rhetoric that moves a topic from conversation to jihad.

 

[WebmasterPete]

it is a pretty big leap from budget cuts to people dieing in a fire... that is inflammatory rhetoric that moves a topic from conversation to jihad.

Not when the budget cuts are coming out of the fire dept, and critical rescue services are being cut. These aren't 'rhetorical' cuts - they're real and they will affect the departments ability to respond, which absolutely could cost lives.

 

[Stroller Boy]

Not when the budget cuts are coming out of the fire dept, and critical rescue services are being cut. These aren't 'rhetorical' cuts - they're real and they will affect the departments ability to respond, which absolutely could cost lives.

Pete, you're "on the ground" down there and probably know better than us, but I gotta agree with Oscar a bit. When times are good and tax revenues are high the governments do tend to spend more and increase their capacity whether they need it or not.... Once again...not saying that this is the case here, but sometimes people will riot about a point thinking that all things are equal when they are not. I'm just saying that each individual "cut" should be argued on it's own merit (or spending in one area v. another as in this case). This is coming from an area where I see tons of government waste where safety or kids education would not be impacted by a cut (or a flat budget every once in a while...)

I'll take your word for it where Orlando is concerned though as it sounds like you have followed this very closely and have all the details. Keep up the good rant!

 

[corky441]

The really sad part of all of this is that you ( we ) find out about things like this after the fact.

"Our" elected officials make deals and cuts and allocations supposedly on the behalf of the people who have put them in office. It's so distressing to see what government has become and while yes we can take these people out of office when their terms are completed, we must live with the repercussions long after they are gone....

 

[WebmasterPete]

Pete, you're "on the ground" down there and probably know better than us, but I gotta agree with Oscar a bit. When times are good and tax revenues are high the governments do tend to spend more and increase their capacity whether they need it or not.... Once again...not saying that this is the case here, but sometimes people will riot about a point thinking that all things are equal when they are not. I'm just saying that each individual "cut" should be argued on it's own merit (or spending in one area v. another as in this case). This is coming from an area where I see tons of government waste where safety or kids education would not be impacted by a cut (or a flat budget every once in a while...)

I'll take your word for it where Orlando is concerned though as it sounds like you have followed this very closely and have all the details. Keep up the good rant!

I don't think you'll find anyone in Orlando claiming they overspend on fire or police services. Historically, these things are not ever 'over-funded' (not just here in Orlando, but anywhere). In 'boom' times, it's things like arenas that get funded - the assumption being that the 'boom' will continue. That's what happened here - as the news story I reference in the blog points out, these projects (the Magic arena, the performing arts center, upgrades to the Citrust Bowl) were approved on the assumption that tourist tax revenue would continue to increase. There was no consideration or 'what if' scenario about the effects of a downturn when these plans were being made. So, the ones that will ultimately pay the price are the kids (fewer school services, fewer teachers) and the taxpayers (fewer resources for law enforcement and public services). It's the multi-millionaire basketball players who remain largely unaffected.

Pete

 

[robertgp124]

I think Pete should run for office. I nominate Pete for Mayor of Orlando ... or better yet ... Governor of Florida.

There's a Senate seat coming open in a couple of years...

 

[robertgp124]

Not when the budget cuts are coming out of the fire dept, and critical rescue services are being cut. These aren't 'rhetorical' cuts - they're real and they will affect the departments ability to respond, which absolutely could cost lives.

It also impacts costs for homeowners. If your city doesn't meet a certain rating with the fire services, your homeowners insurance can go up significantly. We just went through a thing here where the city was desperate to open another fire station to avoid losing the rating.

Sort of a double whammy, let's cut your services and (potentially) let you see your insurance rates go up!