Kimbrell's plan eyes highway money allocation

By Staff
Bob Ingram, Alabama Scene
MONTGOMERY–First it was Athletic Director David Housel who was told to clean out his desk, then Alumni Vice President Betty Dement, and then basketball Coach Cliff Ellis. The sweeping changes made by interim Auburn President Ed Richardson gave new meaning to spring cleaning.
Least surprising of the departures was Housel, who has been doomed since his ill-advised trip to Louisville last November in search of a new football coach. While it is inconceivable that the trip was his idea, the fact that he boarded that plane was grounds aplenty for his early retirement.
While some students inappropriately "rolled" Toomer's Corner with toilet tissue when former President Bill Walker was fired, there was no such celebration at Housel's departure. Even those who felt he had to go had no inclination to rejoice.
Housel will not leave the Plains empty-handed. By extending his departure from the payroll until Jan. 1, 2006, he will receive a generous one-time windfall from the celebrated Deferred Retirement Option Plan (DROP)…well into six figures…and his annual retirement benefits based on his salary of about $181,000 a year will amount to about $125,000 annually.
Far more surprising was the dismissal of Dement and Ellis. In fact Dement's dismissal drew criticism from several alumni association leaders.
Ellis' dismissal underscores the uncertain life of a major college coach. Only a year ago he was hailed as a hero when the Tigers reached the Sweet 16 in the NCAA, but the dismal performance by the team this year turned the cheers of a year ago into jeers this year.
A lifetime ago few men walked with a bigger stick in state politics. He was a floor leader in the Senate during Big Jim Folsom's first administration, he was his Finance Director in the second administration and there has never been a man in that post who wielded more clout. And don't let his age fool you. He still possesses as much political moxie as men half his age.
Now comes Kimbrell with a plan which he thinks will bring some fairness to the allocation of state highway money to the various counties. For years the complaint has been that many counties…especially the rural, thinly populated counties…don't get a fair shake in highway funds. There is some truth to that contention.
Kimbrell's plan which he is trying to sell to legislators is not all that complicated. He proposes that one half of all state highway revenue would be used for interstate and primary roads, the other half would be distributed in a unique but seemingly quite fair formula: One third of it would be allocated to each county equally; one third allocated to each county based on the number of miles of state roads in the county; and the final third distributed according to population.
The two have joined forces in support of a measure given the catchy name of "Bingo for Books"–or as some critics prefer to call it, "Bingo For Bookies." It has passed the Senate after a day-long filibuster and seems certain to sail through the House. Even a possible veto by Gov. Riley isn't likely to keep the measure from eventually becoming law.
The measure would legalize electronic bingo games at the in Birmingham and Mobile if approved by the voters. It is estimated the tax will generate about $50 million a year which will be earmarked for textbooks.
If approved, this will mark the first time that proceeds from any of the so-called "sin taxes" has gone to schools. None of the proceeds from levies on liquor, beer or cigarettes goes to education. There was a time in the distant past when this was thought to be inappropriate. But that was a different time.