School finance

School districts across the state are crying once again. This can only mean one thing - the 2009 Legislature is about to meet. School districts are once again crying that they don't have enough money to operate. Guess what? Neither do most of the households who pay the taxes to keep these entities bankrolled. School districts aren't being asked to do anything more than what the average family is doing: tightening the belt and watching pennies.

School districts are whining about uncontrollable costs. Just like the average family all costs are controllable. You just have to decide how and what you are willing to sacrifice! School districts are complaining that money flowing into schools is flat, while costs are rising. That big piggy bank they used to be able to tap 'local property tax' has been tapped to the max. School districts did not make the necessary adjustments.

However, they did make the appropriate adjustment in tapping that local fund balance. The fund balance is the taxpayer money hoarded by school districts and spent on a number of things usually not needed, i.e. turf fields, new gyms, administrator trips, etc. The taxpayer has for years been screaming about those growing fund balances and wanting their money returned in the form of a property tax rate cut, but the school district's ignored the wishes of the taxpayer longer than they should have. Taxpayers became upset and went to the legislature and requested that school districts be held accountable for the misuse of taxpayer funds, and the legislature responded with a property tax rate ceiling.

School districts have one goal - educating our children. School districts should focus more time on their own spending and educating children and less time worrying about sources of funding. School districts are bloated with administration expense, and it is time to move forth with some gas relief to aid that bloated feeling. Independent School Districts in this state need to start trimming that excess fat. Start at the top like most companies going through a restructuring.

School districts started the fight with the taxpayers of this state, and I don't believe taxpayers will be silent and let their property be lost due to uncontrollable spending and tax happy school districts.