Our share of the stimulus pie... (Omaha, Lincoln: credit, school districts, universities)

[itsMeFred]

You mean to tell me that Nebraska asked for $380,458,530 for 154 projects and every single last one of them is in OmahanLincoln??


Nothing else in the state needs done? No other community could use some of this money??

[Dave1215]

I have conflicting thoughts on this...

First, I was not in favor of the spending in the plan, so one side is glad that Nerbaska didn't ask "for much"... those towns/counties that didn't put their hand up should be proud.

The other side says that if the powers that be still felt compelled to give out all that money, then why not take your "fair share"... in that case, I'd be wondering why my local officials did not raise their hand for projects.

From a state-level perspective, I would have liked to have seen the roads expansion on the list - that is a one-time spend, that would create an initial influx of word... when completed there would not have been much ongoing general fund expense to burden future budgets (beyond normal maintenance).

I really really hope that the projects completed are in the category of one-time spend... what really scares me is these projects create new programs that once started by the stimulus money must then be funded for ongoing operations out of general fund.... that would be a really bad thing.

[Cunucu Beach]

I noticed that, too, IMF. Spoze it's because Nelson is a Democrat and Omaha and Lincoln have the most Democrats in the state?

[mattpoulsen]

Fred,

Well, I don't think the numbers you are looking at are correct. I think the site you linked to is simply treating Nebraska as though it consists of only Lincoln and Omaha.

According to local papers (journalstar) Nebraska is going to get about $644 million. I don't have the breakdown but included in this number is money going to colleges and universities, local school districts, roads, energy programs, healthcare, and various social programs (among other things).

JournalStar.com - Lincoln, Nebraska - News - Local (http://www.journalstar.com/news/local/doc4999e9252f087453750904.txt - broken link)

http://www.journalstar.com/articles/2009/02/15/news/local/doc49978ff6b08e5693897525.txt (broken link)

I think when you see an itemization of these numbers you will see money flowing into non-metro Nebraska, probably via education and roads programs.

I think the problem was incomplete reporting by the link that started this thread.

[Dave1215]

I believe that website originally referenced was also the original requests of "shovel-ready" projects... not the list of final funded projects. I believe a large number of smaller towns probably did not have "shovel-ready" projects, but will end up with some funded projects.

I think "shovel-ready" meant that all design work was completed and basically the project was ready to go to bid.

[mattpoulsen]

I agree.

In the end, I think the rest of Nebraska will at least get some of the pie, even if not necessarily their fair share.

[Sandhills Guru]

This is all fine and dandy. But what got us into this mess was people spending money (credit) that they didn't have, now the government is going to get us out of it by spending money they don't have? What is wrong with this picture?

[Dave1215]

Originally Posted by sandhills guru

what is wrong with this picture?

lots

[Raphael07]

Well, every superpower has collapsed at some point.............

[mattpoulsen]

Well, I don't think we're anywhere near that. The thing that bothers me is that in normal recessions the economy comes out the other side a leaner and more productive machine. The weak go belly up and are supplanted by the more efficient and more productive. All the handouts makes me strongly fear that we will not reap the benefits of the recession (I know that sounds strange to say).

I'm just really irritated with all of it right now! Part of being an American is facing the possibility of failure! Its that possibility which drives you NOT to fail!