I know the story behind the closing but I was hoping there would've been a plan by now to rehab / reopen the pier. Anyone heard any reliable news? Miss my old girl...
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I know the story behind the closing but I was hoping there would've been a plan by now to rehab / reopen the pier. Anyone heard any reliable news? Miss my old girl...
Not until they find the money to fix it.
Given the budget situation, the entire site may close, let alone fix anything.
It really amazes me they (GOV) have money trouble with both a sales tax and state income tax:bang
When will people have had enough?
Alabama has been in a fiscal crisis for years and our legislature has been "borrowing from Peter to pay Paul" to make ends meet. Now Peter is broke and has bad bunions and can't kick the can down the road any more. Non revenue generating projects naturally take a back seat when funds are scarce (Perdido Pass sea wall for instance).
Its quite simple, we don't collect enough in taxes to support our State government services. And as Chillinfish stated, they've been robbing peter to pay paul and cutting agency budgets for years. There is nothing left to cut without agencies cutting services. Its that simple.
If these budget cuts and user fee "re-allocations" take place like proposed by the legislature, parks will close, some WMA's will most likely close, troopers will be laid off, license offices will close, health services will be cut, etc...
If you had your budget basically level funded or cut every year for the last 7 years, could you keep the lights on without tightening your belt? At what point does it tip your budget over the edge? That's the point the state agencies are right now.
Ask yourself: How can we have new airplane factories, expanding auto factories, new auto suppliers being built every year, ship yards that are so busy they can't find employees, lowest unemployment since 2007, etc.., and yet our state government can't collect enough money to even level fund state agencies from year to the next?
Not give increases mind you, no agency is expecting increases, even though some (like state trooper desperately need it), they simply cant find the money to even level fund our state government.
HOW????
Simple: Our tax code is broken and we have no leadership in the legislature that is willing to be honest about it.
Little more simple than that. The problem is earmarking funds there is over 300 mil in excess in the treasury for earmarked projects that don't need it. However due to the way earmarking is done it cannot be touched. Need to rewrite the way the money is handled. In addition Medicaid is growing exponentially the program and recipients need to be reviewed I believe many are receiving money and food stamps fraudulently.
Thanks for the reply fellas. See you at the pier in 3 weeks!
I wonder how multi-million dollar tax breaks for multiple years to large companies help.
Bodebum, the "logic" of the corporate tax breaks was that the extra income tax, and boost to the economy from payroll & spending (sales tax) by the new employees associated with the new plants would make up for the tax breaks.
Obviously it ain't working.
So after making this post I'm excited to hear there was a plan for rebuilding the Ft. Morgan pier. Read an article stating construction was going to begin last month and be completed by the end of the year (I saw they completed the new boat launch). However, I haven't seen any photos or recent articles stating construction had indeed begun. I fear there has been a delay or hiccup. Anyone have any news?
https://www.wkrg.com/news/baldwin-co...ure/1270964695