MD Reporter: Alcohol tax money goes to districts that supported it

What do Cabin John Middle School, Farmland Elementary School, Garrett Park Elementary School and Cannon Road Elementary School have in common? Read this article from the Maryland Reporter.

It took some Annapolis deal making in order to get the new 3% alcohol tax passed at the tail end of this year’s legislative session, and charges are being levied that politics are being played with where those proceeds are being spent...

...“There’s some precision associated with that,” Kamenetz responded. “When the General Assembly agreed to create an opportunity for one-time funding using revenues from the alcohol tax, the delegation agreed those districts that supported the funding would be the beneficiaries.”Kamenetz said that the seven schools that got the funding were selected based on the “hard vote” taken by their representatives... 

...Sen. Jim Brochin, D- Baltimore County, represents District 42. His district has plenty of educational facility needs – he said that elementary schools are currently at 140% of their capacity – but they got no funds. 

In the General Assembly, Brochin opposed the alcohol tax because he thought the money should go toward the disabled. School construction already has solid funding sources, he said.“This is a very sophisticated shell game,” Brochin said.

Read more: http://marylandreporter.com/2011/10/25/alcohol-tax-money-goes-to-districts-that-supported-it/#ixzz1bnmcrWTJ
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