Airplanes and Helicopters
Increases in taxes, budget surpluses and now the WV Dept of Administration is requesting bids to purchase or lease new airplanes, a King Air and a Caravan. The state is also seeking to purchase 2 new helicopters. While there may be justification for all of this in terms of usefulness, the question becomes: how can we raise taxes in front of a $300 million budget surplus, than go out and purchase new airplanes.
We have a $300 million surplus, but we are going to have a special secession with tax sequences to give state employee’s raises. Perhaps the employees deserve a raise and there appears to be money available to make that happen. Why then, is there so much talk of more tax increases. If we can afford million of dollars for new airplanes, maybe we are not getting the whole story.
We have a $300 million surplus, but we are going to have a special secession with tax sequences to give state employee’s raises. Perhaps the employees deserve a raise and there appears to be money available to make that happen. Why then, is there so much talk of more tax increases. If we can afford million of dollars for new airplanes, maybe we are not getting the whole story.
posted by Laymansview | 12:24 PM
2 Comments:
The purchase of the Bell King Air and the Cessna Caravan comes from the $5.1Million previously allocated to the State Police for the purchase of a dual-engine aircraft. This money was already allocated last year and although it was not used for a purchase yet, is already factored in the State budget.
The question is not why the money is allocated in the face of $300Million budget, the question is why aren't the State Police getting their aircraft.
Also, there is not a $300Million surplus anymore. The legislature allocated approximately $225Million to help pay off the Troopers Pension Plan A. The remaining amount was used to fund various ailing funds.
Then I guess I would have to ask why the state police need a King Air. Being a pilot myself, I am familiar with the cost and capabilites of both the King Air and the Caravan and can not imagine why the state police need either and certainly not both.
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