School News to Make VOICE Proud
PolitaKid writes about the the defeat of a proposed tax increase proposed for the Christiana School District in New Castle County. Remember, Delaware has independent school districts with their own taxing authority.
Evidently the measure went down in flames because of the proposed increase was to be used to pay for things such as a parking garage at Newark High School.
A parking garage for Newark High School is a little ridiculous,” said Nancy Furlong, of near Christiana, who voted “no” during her lunchtime at Albert H. Jones Elementary School. “Just putting kids in a parking garage is a cause for trouble. Just think of the graffiti. And it’s an enclosed space. Think of all the vandalism you’re going to have in the building. - News Journal
While some of the proposed spending was obviously misguided, I am concerned about two quotes from the News Journal article.
The district was also seeking additional money to complete six of 19 projects originally funded by the $147 million capital referendum that passed in 2002. The money was needed because inflation had driven construction costs up by nearly 40 percent, Christina officials said.
Obviously the people at the Christiana School District use some of the same planning techniques as the Wicomico County BOE. If their construction costs went up 40% in three years then something is wrong. The real estate boom didn’t start yesterday and the resulting inflation in construction costs could have been at least partially planned for. This is a concern that I have about the needed school construction in Wicomico County. If you have a 10 year plan for capital projects and only budget in current dollars you have serious problems.
Just as disconcerting is the belief of some citizens that they shouldn’t have to pay for education -
“I voted against it because I’m retired and the school taxes have gone up, up, up,” said Vaughn Altemus, of near Newark.
If people believe that there is wasteful spending, then they need to get involved on both sides of the ledger. Sure, oppose tax increases; but also be part of the solution in identifying wasteful spending and getting rid of it.
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read my posts on schools and taxes in “the devolopment keeps comming