Monday, August 17, 2009

Gallup Poll Finds 57% Believe Stimulus Having No Impact Or Hurting Economy.

I subscribe to a news service from the International City/County Management Association. The item listed below came from today's issue.

USA Today (8/17, Heath, 2.29M) reports, "Six months after President Obama launched a $787 billion plan to right the nation's economy, a majority of Americans think the avalanche of new federal aid has cost too much and done too little to end the recession." A USA Today/Gallup Poll "found 57% of adults say the stimulus package is having no impact on the economy or making it worse. Even more -- 60% -- doubt that the stimulus plan will help the economy in the years ahead, and only 18% say it has done anything to help improve their personal situation."

I would be classified in the 57% based on our experience with ARRA. As you know, Hillsboro received approval to resurface Ash Street to the tune of $412,000 and change.

The stimulus program was sold on having "shovel ready" projects that could be built immediately. That would get money into the economy and therefore get the economy cooking again. It seems that we won't be getting this project started in calendar year 2009 at all. Here is the timeline:

  • March--Program approval
  • KDOT project meetings indicate the projects need to go through KDOT review process
  • Project design goes from 7 sheets to 36 sheets to meet KDOT Specifications
  • Project bid letting is scheduled for December 15, 2009
  • Construction begins sometime in 2010

I really like the opportunity for the Federal government to pay for the improvements to Ash Street. BUT, getting an infusion of cash into the economy in a timely fashion is not going to happen.

This was touted as a "jump start" to a stalled economy. If Hillsboro is a barometer of the impact of the Stimulus program, then the program is a failure.

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