What do you think of this? (Bangor, Kennebunk: camper, salaries, airports)

[msina]

MaineOpenGov Blog (http://blog.maineopengov.org/2009/09/2009-maine-piglet-book.html - broken link)

Watchdogs Release 2009 Maine Piglet Book | Reuters

The 2009 Maine Piglet uncovered dozens of examples of wasteful and questionable
spending by state and local officials, including:

• $435,224,338 State employees: Over-employed and over-compensated
• $192,940,000 State money borrowed with no voter approval
• $99,428,000 Questionable capital building project recommendations
• $11,900,000 New 55,000-sq. foot administrative building for 116 turnpike workers
• $6,000,000 Bankrupt taxpayer-funded museum
• $1,500,000 Department of Education migrant student fraud
• $102,000 Three paintings for a rest stop in Kennebunk
• $82,533 "Bottled Water" in 2008

http://kennebecjournal.mainetoday.co...l/6897135.html

* $155 million spent on Dirigo Health since 2003, when the program was created to offer a health insurance option to small businesses and the self-employed.

* $102,000 spent by the Maine Turnpike Authority on three William Wegman Weimaraner photos displayed at the Kennebunk rest stop. The authority used money collected from turnpike tolls to pay for the photos.

* $17 million spent on the Maine Clean Election program, a voter-approved citizen initiative that provides public money to candidates running for the Legislature and for governor.

* $20,000 for a new production of "My Fair Lady" at the Ogunquit Playhouse, which was a federal grant awarded by the Maine Arts Commission.

[Maine Writer]

*rethinking TABOR*

[mollysmiles]

If TABOR *truly* went after the state gov't spending and didn't tie the hands of local control, I'd rethink it too.... but not having a say in town gov't at town meetings and such is just too much of a risk. It's scary to look at what has happened in other areas where it's been brought in... no thanks. The state needs to behave differently, but I don't want to have to call a special meeting to buy a new batch of construction paper for the next school year because it wasn't budgeted. Local control is important to me.

and about that "sport" hunting?

[Maineah]

I've seen the "dog art" at the Kennebunk rest stop. If they paid $102,000 for that, the artist is the one laughing all the way to the bank.

[cebdark]

Originally Posted by retiredtinbender

These political groups mcan skew facts around quite a bit especially the closer it gets to election day.

That's for sure! It's hard to know what to believe, but I agree with molly about TABOR with the losing of local control. I see that first hand with consolidation. There are a myriad of better ways to save money.

I'd just like a little transparency. If it was a grant, I'd like to know for instance, exactly how much money from tolls was spent on it. I still think that if they are going to earmark tolls for road maintenance, then it should be for road maintenance, not artwork.

Just my $.02

[cebdark]

Originally Posted by Maineah

I've seen the "dog art" at the Kennebunk rest stop. If they paid $102,000 for that, the artist is the one laughing all the way to the bank.

Yeah, I'm rethinking my career now....

[cebdark]

"$1,500,000 Department of Education migrant student fraud"

It's that where our so-called consolidation "savings" is going?

Is this a $1,500,000 problem in Maine

[Maine Writer]

I am going to vote against TABOR. Something has to be done but that's not the answer. "Migrant fraud" happened in a neighboring super's office. He still has his job.

[JC3]

No wonder I can't wee wee cause they closed the other rest areas. Now I will admit, a timely stop is much much better than any art.

[dmyankee]

TABOR now! I have already voted. I'm going hunting tomorrow.