A first look at the FY09 Alabama General Fund Budget
Posted by BrianI was reading through the Alabama General Fund budget as proposed by Rep. John Knight and thought I’d point out a few of the expenses (subject to change of course)…
$125,363 - “For expenses and awarding of prizes for fairs as provided in Section 2-7-21, Code of Alabama 1975, and other live stock shows and exhibits and other activities.” Why are taxpayers giving away prizes at fairs?
$441,300,652 - Total amount appropriated to the Department of Corrections, which doesn’t include $8,500,000 for feeding of prisoners in county jails. That’s right, nearly half a billion dollars to house prisoners.
$2,665,265 - Total amount appropriated to the board that regulates cosmetology, which doesn’t include another $150,000 to license and regulate massage therapists. Compare that to…
- $1,697,000 - Credit Union Administration
- $1,677,945 - State Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors
- $1,532,800 - Alabama Ethics Comission
- $2,286,996 - Plumbers and Gas Fitters Examining Board
- $445,000 - State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners
- $505,000 - Board for Registration of Architects
- $86,400 - Board of Examiners of Assisted Living Administrators
- $1,919,028 - State Licensing Board for General Contractors
Seems a bit out of whack for the government to spend more money regulating the people who cut your hair than they do on those who build and work on our homes, take care of the aged, and tending to Fido.
$69,360,826 - Total debt service
$4,507,807,143 - Medicaid Agency (Most of the money comes from the “federal and local funds”)
$50,000 - “Employment and Social Opportunities Program” for Women
$514,000 - Various Halls of Fame:
- $19,500 - Men’s Hall of Fame
- $19,500 - Women’s Hall of Fame
- $100,000 - Motorsports Hall of Fame
- $250,000 - Music Hall of Fame
- $125,000 - Sports Hall of Fame
Who knew there were men’s and women’s halls of fame?
And just wait until the various legislators try to insert pork projects (i.e. Phil Poole) and add health insurance coverage for themselves.
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April 8th, 2008 at 8:57 am
Those regulatory board appropriations are from fees generated by the boards themselves. This is not general taxpayer money, however, it is run through the budget. The reason so much is in the list for hair dressers is that there are so many of them to charge fees to.
About 20 years ago the Cosmetology folks sent all the good looking hair dressers down to the Capitol when their bills came up. One House Member, who apparently enjoyed the attention, wanted to keep the ladies in town so he went to the mike and moved to carry over the legislation for one legislative night!
April 8th, 2008 at 10:19 am
I figured the cost was somewhat proportional to the number of entities regulate, but seriously, how much regulation does that industry need?
Thanks for the clarification on the regulatory board funding source.