Monday, September 11, 2006

A Good "Use" of Your Tax Dollars

From the Tampa Tribune. Seems that we don't have enough construction workers down here.

'With bustling construction of new condominiums, roads and office towers across the state, Florida faces an enviable problem: Lots of work to be done, but not enough workers to do it.'

Hmmm....there now exists more real estate inventory for sale right now than in the history of the state, but we need MORE construction workers?

'The state of Florida hopes to solve part of that problem and on Friday announced $12 million in grants during the next 12 months to train entry-level construction workers.'

So, why exactly do we need this?

'Lt. Gov. Toni Jennings said Friday that the state found extra money from last year and wants to eliminate a hurdle holding back growth.'

Oh, GROWTH! I'm sorry, I didn't realize that GROWTH needed to be jump-started in Florida. We've been holding back way too long - gotta eliminate those hurdles.

While I do believe training programs like this do pay for themselves in the long run (skilled workers paying their taxes and becoming consumers and so on.....), I think the money would have been better spent prosecuting contractors who hire undocumented immigrants. These cheater contractors artificially:
  • Drive wages down.
  • Drive tax revenue down by paying under the table. You pay the difference.
  • Place demands on our schools. You pay for the difference.
  • Place demands on emergency services and emergency rooms. You (and your insurer) pay the difference.
  • Increase the work of our border patrol by creating demand for such jobs. You pay for the extra agents and guards needed.

Believe me, I have nothing against immigrant workers -they're doing what's best for their families. But training a bunch of Florida kids on how to do a job that will eventually get undercut by undocumented laborers is nothing short of a boondoggle.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Sir, I salute you.

Over here in West Palm Beach, we've got'em in just about every development. Yes, they work hard, and they don't normally cause trouble, but then again tax-paying American construction workers do the same.

Seriously though - $12 million is a drop in the bucket. No major deal.

Anonymous said...

I agree - $12 million won't last long. But I also agree that the money is not well spent. Just another symptom of tax coffers overflowing from the windfalls of the current housing bubble. Should've saved that money for a rainy day.

Anonymous said...

That rainy day is coming soon - the horizon is getting very dark, and boiling thunderclouds are forming.....

Anonymous said...

What growth? School enrollment is barely up over last year, in Hillsborough County and across the state.


Hillsborough enrollment sluggish
By Times Staff Writer
Published September 7, 2006

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Enrollment in Hillsborough's public schools has inched up by just 15 students since the fifth day of classes.

A head count on Wednesday tallied 191,343 students in K-12. That's 1,164 more students than last year.

But Hillsborough expected to add about 5,100 students. The start of the school year has seen a surprising slowdown in enrollment across the state.

Hillsborough's shortfall comes on the heels of the County Commission's decision to hike school impact fees on new homes to pay for growth. Now several commissioners are concerned about what happened with the school district's projections.

Hillsborough still could pick up another 1,000 to 1,500 students this year, said Cindy Wood, director of planning and related services.

[Last modified September 7, 2006, 06:07:05]

Anonymous said...

Good one! Let's see, doesn't that come out to an increase of Less Than 1%?

Well, we certainly can't blame it on overpriced housing can we?

Naw...couldn't be that!

Anonymous said...

You know...you just can't have enough guys around who know how to plow over native forest.

"Progess", my lilly white ashhhh!

Anonymous said...

A little off topic, but still pertinent:

Hurricane Insurance Costs Are Hitting Small Business

http://www.tbo.com/news/money/MGBFRHGKZRE.html

109,000 square foot office park can't stay in business because rents won't support cost of insurance. Who is going to build more office space in these times?

This insurance dilemma is affecting the home/condo market in a HUGE way as well.

Anonymous said...

Gee - teach me a job on how to do something that Mexicans are doing for half of what they should be paying me?!

That's a dream come true! Where do I sign up? That Toni Jennings is SO SMART! She must have gone to the University of FLORIDA or something!

Anonymous said...

Relax. Resistance is futile. You WILL be assimilated.

Anonymous said...

That's not a true boondoggle - a TRUE boondoggle would be to train these folks and then they all leave to go work in Louisiana and Mississippi....D'oh!!!!