April 3, 2010… Cuyahoga County taxpayers in these depression-like times have paid $91 million into the fund for the Medical Mart deal. Does anyone notice?
The Plain Dealer, our news media of record, appears to have forgotten that we have a near – or more – $1 billion project. The Med Mart has slipped off its radar apparently. Coverage seems to be much more interested in who is running for county council in who knows where and who cares less.
How about telling us something about the biggest money project since Gateway, PD. Hundreds of millions of dollars to be spent. All public dough. Or is it going to be the same old story – we’ll tell you when the overrun is drowning us.
Also, where ARE those candidates for new County offices on this issue?
As of the end of March, the extra tax burden on county residents here has produced $91,310,921.10. It comes in dribbles. But that’s a lot of money.
Where is the Tea party? Where is our public money watchdog Kevin O’Brien?
So far this year the quarter-percent sales tax increase by our County Commissioners – Tim Hagan, Jimmy Dimora and Peter Lawson Jones – has produced $10.6 million.
That appears to be at a rate to produce some $42.4 million a year. The tax originally had a duration of 20 years. At this quarter’s rate of $42.4 million it would produce $848 million. One can expect prices and sales tax receipts to go up over 20 years. The tax commenced at the beginning of the year 2008.
So with the economy picking up slightly it appears the sales tax will be bringing in much more than first predicted.