The PAC-14 Fiasco – Part I …
July 28, 2008 by Cato
Filed under Maryland, Media, Salisbury Politics, Wicomico Politics
… How Will YOUR Money Be Spent?
PAC-14, Salisbury / Wicomico’s local public access channel, wants to increase your monthly cable bill by $0.85. Personally, I don’t see much of a problem with the amount. But make no mistake – there is a problem. In fact, there are several problems:
- How Will YOUR Money Be Spent?
- Who Will Decide How YOUR Money Will Be Spent?
- Why Are They Meeting in Secret?
- Why Do They Refuse to Answer Any Questions?
- Should Ratepayers and Taxpayers Fund an Organization With No Accountability?
Today we will focus on – How Will YOUR Money Be Spent?
Think back a few weeks. Mike Goodson of PAC-14, with a consultant in tow, made a presentation to the Salisbury City Council. Goodson’s request amounts to approximately $1.95 million. We were told that these monies were to go to capital expenditures including land, a building and equipment. These capital expenditures were to be paid for with an increase in your monthly cable bill of $0.85 per month for a period of eight (8) years.
Not to divert too far, but when was the last time you saw a temporary rate increase? This expenditure of $1.95 million over eight years – actually, they propose to borrow most of that money up front from Comcast – will most likely turn into millions more over many years.
Fair enough. Let’s assume that PAC-14 will need this money for maintenance and replacement of worn out or depreciated equipment. Let’s also assume that this money will be “well spent” according to general community norms.
What if I were to tell you that there’s a good chance that this is NOT how the money will be spent?
During their presentation they were asked what role Salisbury University would play in all of this. As with most of Goodson’s answers, he wasn’t very forthcoming. However, he did intimate that SU might be providing them with additional space.
Bravo to SU! Of course we then have to ask – IF SU is one of the three (3) “partners” responsible for PAC-14 and IF they would be providing new, additional space to PAC-14, WHY DOES GOODSON CLAIM THAT PAC-14 NEEDS OVER $1 MILLION FOR LAND AND A BUILDING?
It simply doesn’t make sense, UNLESS they already have plans for that money.
Why should the ratepayers pay higher cable rates if that money is not truly needed?
Isn’t it better to postpone a rate increase until it is known whether the land and building will be needed?
If there is a valid need for this additional money, why isn’t the true purpose being given to the taxpayers and ratepayers of Salisbury and Wicomico County?
Since PAC-14 is a recipient of hundreds of thousands of tax dollars every year, why should the taxpayers continue funding an organization that is not being completely forthcoming with the public and their elected representatives?
Tomorrow tune in for our next installment – Who Will Decide How This Money Will Be Spent?
Mike Goodson needs to make sure he is getting all that is due PAC 14 through the city. John Pick and Pam Oland both said they NEVER make up the difference at the end of the year. If he can’t keep track of those funds how will he ever keep track of millions more in additional funding?
Someone should also take a look at the “comparable” communities their consultant developed for this pie-in-the-sky amount. Cambridge, MA? HARVARD is located there. SU is many things in this community, but Harvard, it is not. Goodson has delusions of grandeur. They do not need Avid video composer suites for public access television that, by the way, nobody really WATCHES!!! They also use other, much larger communities in Maryland with VERY different tax bases. $ 0.85 per month is just too much.
This be Barrie’s new job when I get to be Mare!