How much planning can you do with $1.7 million? And does any of it matter? The Texas Planning Assistance Grant Program is giving away that much of your money to 19 local “councils of government.” What is a council of government? They allegedly exist to facilitate intergovernmental cooperation and planning. What do they do? Spend your money.
COGs are composed of all the governmental entities in an area. These are little non-profit organizations that take on government powers and authority. Except when they don’t. And they have about as much transparency as a window made of concrete and lined with lead.
COGs are “multipurpose planning agencies” and “provide technical assistance” to local government. Your local tax dollars feed them, and your state and federal dollars give them teeth. How are those dollars spent?
Apparently in planning. And facilitating. Oh, and assisting. Don’t forget the assisting.
Somehow the COGs never manage to plan a way for the facilitation of money back into the taxpayers’ wallets. Indeed, the COGs exist to find new ways to grow government, new ways to spend your money, and new ways to facilitate corporate welfare. So expect this $1.7 million to go to good use… in growing more government.
