YOUR TAXES AT WORK

What are our lawmakers doing with our taxes?

You can ask them, but it may not do any good.

At least 100 state agencies have filed requests for next fiscal year starting July 1.

But the House and Senate aren’t among them – despite state law requiring agencies to file requests with the governor by Nov. 1.

Both the 124-member House and 46-member Senate ignored that law.

Lawmakers also disregarded another state law requiring the House Ways and Means and Senate Finance committees to hold joint, open hearings on the governor’s proposed spending plan within 5 days of receiving it.

The House and Senate are flush with money.

For this fiscal year, the House’s budget is $22.7 million, including a $250,000 increase for itself.

The Senate’s is $16.3 million, including hikes of $1.25 million and $250,000.

The House had reserves of $23.3 million and $247,024.

Senate surpluses were $5.2 million and $726,713.

It remains to be seen whether House and Senate leaders will seek a chunk of the projected extra $1.8 billion in 2020-21 revenue.

Next year’s requests include millions for promoting a professional golf tournament, businesses and products, plus taxpayer-funded incentives for companies to locate or expand here.

Last week we requested details from Senate clerk Jeff Gossett and acting House clerk Charles Reid.

Gossett didn’t respond.

Richard Pearce, staff attorney for the House clerk, said there are “no documents in the possession of the House related” to next fiscal year’s proposed chamber money. Pearce didn’t directly answer.

Legislative leaders typically have been tight-lipped about publicly revealing their spending plans.

When we asked Gossett under the state Freedom of Information Act for details of a proposed $1.25 million hike for the Senate, he responded in writing that there were “no records responsive to this request.”

Gossett is paid $206,016 and Reid $191,172.

27 staffers in both chambers are paid at least $100,000 and that the total number of employees earning at least $50,000 had grown by 25 since 2015.

Brundrett is the news editor of The Nerve. Contact him at 803-254-4411 or rick@thenerve.org .