And the results are in…
30 Aug 2011 Leave a Comment
in political laboratory Tags: frustration, government services
It’s been 2 months now since Florida instituted its drug testing for TANF program and the results are in. A whopping 2% of individuals tested, tested positive. Before we go into the idea/hope that this could help reduce some of the stigma associated with being poor, let’s first look at the cost to taxpayers for this program.
From ThinkProgress.org
Cost of the tests averages about $30. Assuming that 1,000 to 1,500 applicants take the test every month, the state will owe about $28,800-$43,200 monthly in reimbursements to those who test drug-free.
That compares with roughly $32,200-$48,200 the state may save on one month’s worth of rejected applicants.
Net savings to the state: $3,400 to $5,000 annually on one month’s worth of rejected applicants. Over 12 months, the money saved on all rejected applicants would add up to $40,800 to $60,000 for a program that state analysts have predicted will cost $178 million this fiscal year.
Other articles also bring up the fact that this program could cost even more money if individuals go to court over the matter and the state has to pay to defend its legislation. And to think, this program was implemented on the premise that it would safe taxpayer’s money.
Perhaps now taxpayers can direct their anger towards politicians and wasteful legislation, rather than the single mother who is facing hard times.
