Maine Turnpike Authority drops $12 million on new employee facility
With new news that the State is facing an additional $50 million in revenue shortfall, there is a story today in the Portland Press Herald that details the opening of a new turnpike “administrative building” with a price tag of $11.9 million dollars.
Somewhat ironically, these stories are listed back to back in the online portland press herald.
The executive director of the Maine Turnpike Authority – Paul Violette “said he is also aware that many Mainers are probably questioning
the need for a new multimillion-dollar administration building. ‘I can understand why some folks would say, ‘Geez,’ but when you run
the numbers, it made better sense not to lease.'”
For further insight into how the Maine Turnpike spends its money – look for all their employees salaries, and all the MTA vendor payments, to be posted soon on MaineOpenGov.org.
In the meantime – here is a preview:
Paul Violette – The Executive Director of MTA earned $129,674 in 2008. This is excluding overtime and benefits.
This is not the first time the company has employed Wright Ryan Construction of Portland to do major projects – they spent $6,820,081 with them in 2008.
Look for more MTA data coming soon to MaineOpenGov.org
john
Posted on Jul 24, 2009
i don't think the mta is a state agency. doesn't their money come from tolls?
GeishaMX
Posted on Jul 30, 2009
Yes, but interestingly you can get fined $70 for missing a single toll, and it just gets better from there.Then, if you don't pay that fine, they can suspend your license, arrest you for operating after suspension, impound your car, and throw you in jail. What ever happened to the punishment fitting the crime. Cruel and unusual punishment is alive and well. Doesn't matter if you need a valid license for your job; Doesn't matter if the only job you can find is 50 miles away or you have to be there at 4:00 am. This is ridiculous in a state that has little to no public transport, and what does exist is ridiculously overpriced. We should be using stimulous money for public trasportation, not to widen roads, which will employ a single company through the summer. This is like when Sweetser claimed it didn't have money for raises for staff that worked hands on with the children or to do repairs on group homes for 5 years straight, but built a multi-million dollar admin building. Guess you want those rich doners to feel at home when they sit down in the 70,000 conference room with remote controlled dropdown video screen and oval walnut conference table for 20.
Steve
Posted on Sep 01, 2009
lnowing what happens within the MTA if this info is posted, it will be very interesting.
zhangdan
Posted on Sep 07, 2009
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Jaime Snyder
Posted on Dec 19, 2009
Just what I needed! This page should be on the first page of the results but it isn't.
steve
Posted on Dec 22, 2009
When is the turnpike data coming?