Comments on: $2 Billion? http://www.fitsnews.com/2009/01/15/2-billion/ Unfair ... Imbalanced Sun, 21 Mar 2010 02:22:20 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: James the Foot Soldier http://www.fitsnews.com/2009/01/15/2-billion/comment-page-1/#comment-45611 James the Foot Soldier Fri, 16 Jan 2009 15:44:25 +0000 http://www.fitsnews.com/?p=12077#comment-45611 What's wrong with HHS wanting to build a slush fund? Everyone's done it. I for one don't see how "not-for-profit" hospitals can squirrel away HUNDREDS of MILLIONS of dollars and not get a knock on the door from the tax exemption police....oh right, McMaster is too busy demonstrating his pathetic lawyering skills and losing slam-dunk kidnapping cases. The sacred cows in the upcoming budget cycle are K-12 and Medicaid - which means the rest of gov'ment program REALLY get the shaft - which actually trend lines us to a more sustaninable level of spending had our "republican" legislators governed with a spine over the past four years. What’s wrong with HHS wanting to build a slush fund?

Everyone’s done it.

I for one don’t see how “not-for-profit” hospitals can squirrel away HUNDREDS of MILLIONS of dollars and not get a knock on the door from the tax exemption police….oh right, McMaster is too busy demonstrating his pathetic lawyering skills and losing slam-dunk kidnapping cases.

The sacred cows in the upcoming budget cycle are K-12 and Medicaid – which means the rest of gov’ment program REALLY get the shaft – which actually trend lines us to a more sustaninable level of spending had our “republican” legislators governed with a spine over the past four years.

]]> By: male sapphist http://www.fitsnews.com/2009/01/15/2-billion/comment-page-1/#comment-45588 male sapphist Fri, 16 Jan 2009 04:21:18 +0000 http://www.fitsnews.com/?p=12077#comment-45588 If these feeders off of taxpayer largess have surplus cash then, I think, it means the actors did not follow the direction of the legislature and its command to spend the funds on programs. The legislature and the governor should authorize the budget and control board to seize surplus funds and then re-appropriate the cash into public safety and programs that are constitutionally supported. Each agency and every organ of the state needs to justify, by sc constitutional cite, their 'right to exist'. If you were to pare the leviathan down to a role supported by the constitution we would have no crisis. If these feeders off of taxpayer largess have surplus cash then, I think, it means the actors did not follow the direction of the legislature and its command to spend the funds on programs. The legislature and the governor should authorize the budget and control board to seize surplus funds and then re-appropriate the cash into public safety and programs that are constitutionally supported.

Each agency and every organ of the state needs to justify, by sc constitutional cite, their ‘right to exist’. If you were to pare the leviathan down to a role supported by the constitution we would have no crisis.

]]> By: the right side http://www.fitsnews.com/2009/01/15/2-billion/comment-page-1/#comment-45586 the right side Fri, 16 Jan 2009 03:27:32 +0000 http://www.fitsnews.com/?p=12077#comment-45586 Foot soldier: Medicaid is 230 million dollars under 2 years ago. Thats not what anyone would call a sacred cow. HHS was sitting on 270 million dollars a year ago while threatening to cut programs so it could keep money in the bank. Yes, Sanford HHS agency director wanted to slash medicaid while keeping 270 million in reserve. Foot soldier: Medicaid is 230 million dollars under 2 years ago. Thats not what anyone would call a sacred cow. HHS was sitting on 270 million dollars a year ago while threatening to cut programs so it could keep money in the bank. Yes, Sanford HHS agency director wanted to slash medicaid while keeping 270 million in reserve.

]]> By: Steve http://www.fitsnews.com/2009/01/15/2-billion/comment-page-1/#comment-45585 Steve Fri, 16 Jan 2009 02:40:47 +0000 http://www.fitsnews.com/?p=12077#comment-45585 Will, Any data on how much of the surplus may be related to carry forward funds due to property taxes coming in once per year or related to restricted funds? The raw numbers certainly suggest excess surpluses in there but some of that amount (assuming the data is from June 30th end of fiscal year reports) would have to be operating fund balances plus savings to carry them through until November when taxes come in so they can avoid tax anticipation note borrowing. Schools have sales tax revenue, though not as much as promised by the Legislature as evidenced by plans to suppliment that amount, plus some property tax but cities and especially counties are still largely property tax funded. Also, some fund balance could be related to bond projects, where bond revenues are carried forward but restricted for specific purposes. I am not saying there are no excess surpluses, they almost certainly exist, but raw numbers with no data on other factors would not tell the entire story. Will,
Any data on how much of the surplus may be related to carry forward funds due to property taxes coming in once per year or related to restricted funds? The raw numbers certainly suggest excess surpluses in there but some of that amount (assuming the data is from June 30th end of fiscal year reports) would have to be operating fund balances plus savings to carry them through until November when taxes come in so they can avoid tax anticipation note borrowing. Schools have sales tax revenue, though not as much as promised by the Legislature as evidenced by plans to suppliment that amount, plus some property tax but cities and especially counties are still largely property tax funded. Also, some fund balance could be related to bond projects, where bond revenues are carried forward but restricted for specific purposes. I am not saying there are no excess surpluses, they almost certainly exist, but raw numbers with no data on other factors would not tell the entire story.

]]> By: BIN News Editorial Staff http://www.fitsnews.com/2009/01/15/2-billion/comment-page-1/#comment-45576 BIN News Editorial Staff Fri, 16 Jan 2009 00:07:22 +0000 http://www.fitsnews.com/?p=12077#comment-45576 sic(k) willie, "...you ignorant slut." :) Again, we explain that phrase is a classic from a Saturday Night Live skit (also sketch) that is famous the world over. Our use of that phrase is not intended to reflect on sic(k) willie's manhood or his lack of intelligence. It is intended to reflect on his professionalism, if he has any. will, again, all you broke was wind. Howie must really be turning the screws to get you to dream up new ways to attack our public school system. School districts (the ones that can afford it) have for years been following the law which allows them to maintain reserve funds. You know that! Those funds are not slush funds. School districts who can't afford a rainy day fund are being scr@wed. Want details? We have them. And they point to... ........carpetbuggers like you! BIN News Editorial Staff Flair and Balanced sic(k) willie, “…you ignorant slut.” :)

Again, we explain that phrase is a classic from a Saturday Night Live skit (also sketch) that is famous the world over. Our use of that phrase is not intended to reflect on sic(k) willie’s manhood or his lack of intelligence.

It is intended to reflect on his professionalism, if he has any.

will, again, all you broke was wind. Howie must really be turning the screws to get you to dream up new ways to attack our public school system.

School districts (the ones that can afford it) have for years been following the law which allows them to maintain reserve funds. You know that!

Those funds are not slush funds. School districts who can’t afford a rainy day fund are being scr@wed. Want details? We have them. And they point to…

……..carpetbuggers like you!

BIN News Editorial Staff
Flair and Balanced

]]> By: James the Foot Soldier http://www.fitsnews.com/2009/01/15/2-billion/comment-page-1/#comment-45574 James the Foot Soldier Thu, 15 Jan 2009 22:58:34 +0000 http://www.fitsnews.com/?p=12077#comment-45574 These slush funds aren't restricted to school districts. At a time when Medicaid is the sacred cow - we don't dare cut payments for medical care for the poor - many hopsitals in our state are sitting on HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS in slush funds also. These slush funds aren’t restricted to school districts.

At a time when Medicaid is the sacred cow – we don’t dare cut payments for medical care for the poor – many hopsitals in our state are sitting on HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS in slush funds also.

]]> By: Mab http://www.fitsnews.com/2009/01/15/2-billion/comment-page-1/#comment-45569 Mab Thu, 15 Jan 2009 21:20:20 +0000 http://www.fitsnews.com/?p=12077#comment-45569 Sprinkle, sprinkle...may the bean counter genies arise from their slumber...may the math work...may the people's fortunes be restored!!! Hoorah! Sprinkle, sprinkle…may the bean counter genies arise from their slumber…may the math work…may the people’s fortunes be restored!!!

Hoorah!

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