A budgetary ‘makeover’

It’s understandable that people are excited about the ABC-TV show ‘Extreme Makeover: Home Editioncoming to our hometown on the heels of another home built in Sussex County, Delaware. But this excitement comes at a time when Wicomico County is strapped for cash, much as it’s likely the family selected for the new house has their own financial issues to deal with.

According to a resolution passed by Wicomico County Council last week, the county could be holding the bag on over $30,000 worth of fixed and estimated expenses – a far cry from the numbers claimed elsewhere in the local blogosphere, but quite in line with what other communities have experienced. The proof is after the jump.

The county's resolution, provided by County Council member Bob Culver and forwarded to me by a concerned citizen.

It appears that Wicomico County’s tab would be pretty similar to the experience other communities have had. For example, a 2010 renovation in Savannah, Georgia cost local taxpayers $26,000, while Moorhead, Minnesota taxpayers had to pony up over $30,000 for another 2010 job. And not every home built is a success story for the family which receives it.

While there are arguments in favor of the giveaway that reference the tourism possibility and the infusion of capital into the area, those effects aren’t clear. As it turns out though, the show is losing popularity as the 2010-11 audience share was 6% less than the previous year’s, with its 8.5 million viewers a week a far cry from the over 15 million a week it drew during its first full season, 2004-05.

Still, one has to wonder why a show which still averages 8 million viewers a week (and is reportedly a favorite of the First Family) can’t pay the whole tab. If you figure 20 episodes (new homes) a season, that’s only about $600,000. In Extreme Makeover‘s defense, however, that would come on top of production expenses which include the crew traveling around the country to build these facilities.

Fiscal conservatives who decry this additional spending may have a point, though, as did the two County Council members (Bob Culver and Joe Holloway) who objected on the grounds that they can’t support all the nonprofits who seek county money let alone a for-profit enterprise. While the money spent will give a deserving family a home, it also could have gone a long way to hiring another teacher or sheriff’s deputy.

But the other five may be shown as right in the end if there’s enough economic activity brought in by the cast and crew of the show to defray the expense. Obviously the county’s tab won’t take into account the food and lodging those brought in will presumably need, and that impact can’t be discounted, either.

In any case, the votes have been cast and on Wednesday we’ll find out which Wicomico County family will get a knock on the door telling them their prayers have been answered. Likely this will be an experience we in Wicomico County won’t soon forget – or finish paying for.

Author: Michael

It's me from my laptop computer.

2 thoughts on “A budgetary ‘makeover’”

  1. This is a good article, Michael. I learned of the discussion via Facebook. Although it may not be the fuffy garbage people want to hear {and got us all in this collective economy mess}, it is what they need to hear. Keep your chin up, and continue to stay true to your roots.

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