Champaign, IL. (ECWd) -
Amazing. Your tax dollars at work.
It appears the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District decided to participate in the Pride Parade (2014 and 2015), which is fine if that is what they want to do.
In order to participate in the parade, they decided it would be a good idea to purchase some "HIV Prevention Equipment", another not-so-bad-idea...if what they purchased was actually HIV prevention equipment.
The problem with the purchase is two-fold:
First- they purchased a walking penis costume and called it HIV prevention equipment. I think we can all agree that a walking penis costume is not EQUIPMENT for HIV prevention. Condoms may well be, but this thing is not.
Second - they paid sales tax on the purchase when they are a government body and tax-exempt. The cost of this costume was $200.00, plus $17.50 tax, for a total of $217.50. Paying sales tax is not a public purpose and is a constitutional violation [Article VIII, Section 1].
The coding of this parade costume and paying taxes on the purchase lead to more questions:
- How many other purchases are miscoded?
- How many more purchases are made that include sales tax?
- Was this bought with an HIV prevention equipment grant?
Receipt for Costume Candi Crause 112013
[gview file="https://edgarcountywatchdogs.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Receipt-for-Costume-Candi-Crause-112013.pdf"]
3 Comments
Dave
Posted at 21:18h, 25 SeptemberSounds more like a pervert parade… just what people (kids) need to see is a walking penis. The inmates appear to be running the asylum !
Kara O'Rourke Butler
Posted at 21:51h, 25 SeptemberI am speechless
sandy gray
Posted at 11:02h, 26 SeptemberWhat the heck were they thinking? That item is not necessary in a parade, idiots.Sounds like a toy that can be used more for private parties, taxpayers paid for it.