Billions Sitting In State Accounts Can’t Be Tapp

[white cloud]

AUSTIN (CBSDFW.COM) – It’s been a rallying cry for many teachers, parents, and students all across North Texas: Spare public schools from more than $9 billion in cuts to public schools during the next two years.

Sandy Alexander is a retired school teacher. “I think you should never ever sacrifice education – it’s imperative to the future we keep that strong.”

But now the state is reportedly sitting on about $4 billion in taxpayer money. Money the state can’t touch — money it can’t spend on just anything.

http://dfw.cbslocal.com/2011/03/16/billions-sitting-in-state-accounts-cant-be-tapped/

[sonias]

1. Just goes to show you how easily money is lost

$4 billion dollars sitting around state coffers not doing anything with it. This is not money in the Rainy Day Fund - this is money the state collects for some purpose and then doesn't spend it on that purpose.

$4 billion dollars

Freaking unbelievable! :wow:

[plumbob]

2. And then someday, somebody puts a little amendment on a little rider

on a footnote to a paragraph in a bill about saying the Texas pledge that says, "All unused fund balances can be used to promote singing Texas Our Texas."

Then, by a miracle, a corporation called "Sing the Texas state song" appears with a program that will cost exactly what's there.

SURPRISE! Or maybe not, since politicians are attracted to money like vultures to carrion.........

[sonias]

4. Well played!

I would not be the least surprised when the money gets allocated to something shady that becomes an "emergency" like abstinence education.

And some corporation that's a big supporter of Perry's campaigns slips in the back door like you said and voilà the money is gone - problem solved! And then said corporation who made off with the billions of public dollars than gives Perry a kickback for his campaign coffers.

The good'ole boy GOP style of making off with public money like bandits. All in plain view.

:shrug:

[They_Live]

3. I have this funny feeling

That there is no rainy day fund. That it was spent long ago. I have no proof, of course, just a strong intuition. If it does exist, and the state refuses to use it, even in a crisis, perhaps it should be given back to the taxpayers.

[sonias]

5. "given back to the taxpayers"

That has been proposed by their side (tea party types). Problem is they can't give it back specifically to the people they got it from since they don't keep track of it by who paid for what. The best they could do is give it back to every Texan household - but they will never do that. Why that's too much like socialism.

They'll make some excuse about how the rich really contributed the bulk of it and only they should get it back. Plus they are fewer of them to identify. :grr:

[They_Live]

6. You're right about that. n/t