Subtract add-ons?
The Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, which was signed into law Oct. 3, contains several add-ons that the Washington-based National Association of Counties has hailed as greatly beneficial to local governments. (See related story.) The Secure Rural Schools program, which includes supplements for timber industry-reliant counties, and the Payment in Lieu of Taxes program, which pays counties to administer federal lands in their jurisdictions, were extended through 2011 and 2012, respectively.
American City & County asked the readers of its weekly e-mail newsletter if they thought it was appropriate to add those items to the bill. Below are some of the responses.
“I believe these changes were necessary and timely. These proposals will help finance schools in rural districts that have, in the past, been dependent on timber-industry revenues to [meet that need]. Since we need to preserve our forests for future generations and for endangered species habitat, we should also be willing to compensate school districts for the lost revenue.”
— Patricia Lambert, environmental planner, Arlington, Texas-based North Central Texas Council of Governments
“While each of these provisions may have their own merits, it was not appropriate to delay the passage of the act to negotiate their inclusion. Bold, quick and decisive action was needed. It would have been much better to quickly pass the act, and then deal with these other issues separately.”
— Joseph Perez, chief engineer, Orange County, Fla., Highway Construction Division
“No bill should be allowed to go through with add-ons. Maybe we could actually fix one problem at a time.”
— Jim Urfer, water/wastewater superintendent, Higginsville, Mo.
“Even though these serve, in most cases, a good cause, they should not be permitted anymore. I can only imagine the cost added to government programs in a year’s time, let alone the amount of pork that was dispersed since this was permitted.”
— David Wozniak, public safety coordinator, Cumberland County, Pa.
