Alabama is falling apart

[ensho]

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=awnY4WwTlTlA


Alabama County Set to Halt Services, Shut Buildings Over Budget


Alabama’s most populous county is preparing to stop road maintenance, close courthouses and shutter services for the elderly after a court struck down taxes that pay for about 35 percent of its budget.

Jefferson County, which includes Birmingham, released a plan to cut $52 million from its budget as it appeals the ruling against its business and occupational taxes to the Alabama Supreme Court. Without that revenue, the county has said it is at risk of running out of money as soon as this month.

The loss of the tax money was another blow to a county that has been struggling to avoid bankruptcy since last year, when Wall Street’s financial crisis caused its interest bills to soar on more than $3 billion of bonds.

The proposed cuts, released today by county Commission President Bettye Fine Collins, would slash deeply into the government’s services and also include closing a nursing home for the indigent, declaring a moratorium on enforcing zoning and littering laws, and scrapping local development contracts.
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hard times for the people

[Ian David]

1. Oh, good! For a second I thought you meant...

[sutz12]

2. Drowning government...

The Republican goal.

:shrug:

[ensho]

3. forgot about that - then alabamians must be pleased

Alabama is doing well and not falling apart

[ecstatic]

4. and yet they still voted for repubs... (and over 50% of AL Dems too)

I guess we can all see how that's working out for them. :eyes:

[elifino]

16. I am sorry to say, a Dem was in office when this begin

http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSTRE4B045V20081201

Langford, a Democrat, was the head of the Jefferson County commission at the time it engaged in variable rate, auction and bond swaps to raise money to improve its sewer system.

"He sold out his public office to his friends Blount and LaPierre for about $235,000 in expensive clothes, watches and cash to pay his growing personal debt. All the while, Blount was paid fees topping $7 million," said Martin.

"Through a web of financing agreements Langford required many institutions to use Blount as a consultant so Blount would make fees and in turn pay off Langford," Martin told a news conference, adding: "It was a classic pay-to-play scheme."

Langford's office said the arrest was "no surprise."

[snappyturtle]

5. It's hard to hear that a state would cut such essential services as a

nursing home for the indigent. Now what do those people do? Sounds like they are cutting a lot of 'socialistic' services. :sarcasm: And I can bet many Alabamans (?) are afraid of socialism.

[Catshrink]

7. That was my thought

what are they going to do? Dump these poor people on the street? I'm sure many are dementia patients who can't care for themselves.

Starve the beast, right Grover Norquist? Let's dump them on old Grover's front lawn.

[MineralMan]

6. The center cannot hold....

[JuniperLea]

8. Every state is going to feel it to some degree...

We're all in the same boat.

[ensho]

10. I hope other states have better boats then alabama

nt

[HopeHoops]

9. I didn't know it could!

I thought it was already in pieces.

[rsmith6621]

11. This Is The Results of......

Red State Republican Policy's......The roads around TN and MS are filled with potholes and even where they have repaved they have not done any feathering of the asphalt where it ends and either meets up with another section of road of a bridge deck...my struts have suffered some wear as a results.


They just don't learn good around these parts or care as long as they have their guns and God and the Gay leave them alone.

[boomerbust]

12. May I suggest

Alabama give more tax incentives to the foreign car companies, that way the benefits will trickle down to every body.:smoke:

[Romulox]

13. Just add another shift at the Hyundai plant! nt

[JVS]

14. "declaring a moratorium on enforcing zoning and littering laws"

Well let's go litter and start living in office space!

[QC]

15. Far be it from me to interfere with a good old DU hatefest, but

Jefferson County is Democratic, especially Birmingham.

These are mostly Democrats who will be hurt by the cuts that have so many of you so excited.

Now carry on.