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The election is now a couple weeks behind us. (Thank goodness!) The signs are out of the yards and it is safe to listen to commercials again.
But did we learn anything? Can it be called a directive for local schools even though there were no local elections directly affecting Henry County schools?
I have to limit it to Henry County schools because there was an important decision in Knox County. Knox County residents passed a 1 percent sales tax increase with the benefits to go directly to the schools in Knox County.
The proceeds from the sales tax can only be used for infrastructure such as technology or building repair. Now, every time someone buys a shirt, car, or meal in Galesburg, every student in Knox County benefits!
But what about Galva School District? Did the election tell us anything that we can use locally? I think so. I think the election of November 2010 will be remembered for more than just the Tea Party.
I think this election was a time when the American people stood up, put their foot down and said enough is enough. I think the public is tired of watching elected officials waste money on items such as the Bridge to Nowhere. I think the time for fiscal accountability is now.
So where does that leave the Galva School Board? At the Nov. 15 school board meeting, the results of last year’s financial audit were presented by the district’s auditor. In addition to the fact that we had more expenses than revenue last year, he noted that salaries account for 75 percent of the district’s expenses.
That tells me that no matter how much fuel we try to save or how little we spend on textbooks, the only dramatic changes we can make to our bottom line is in the area of payroll.
If my interpretation of the election results is accurate, and the American public is developing a fiscal conscience, then it tells me that they are becoming more serious about a balanced budget for local government also. The budget can be balanced by increasing income, decreasing expenses or both.
Since I doubt the State of Illinois will suddenly bombard the district with money, I am left to assume that we must increase our local tax base or look to more reductions in payroll. Neither of those are options that will help school board members get re-elected. But if getting elected is a higher priority than doing the right thing, we would be working in Washington D.C., not Galva, Ill.
The election is now a couple weeks behind us. (Thank goodness!) The signs are out of the yards and it is safe to listen to commercials again.
But did we learn anything? Can it be called a directive for local schools even though there were no local elections directly affecting Henry County schools?
I have to limit it to Henry County schools because there was an important decision in Knox County. Knox County residents passed a 1 percent sales tax increase with the benefits to go directly to the schools in Knox County.
The proceeds from the sales tax can only be used for infrastructure such as technology or building repair. Now, every time someone buys a shirt, car, or meal in Galesburg, every student in Knox County benefits!
But what about Galva School District? Did the election tell us anything that we can use locally? I think so. I think the election of November 2010 will be remembered for more than just the Tea Party.
I think this election was a time when the American people stood up, put their foot down and said enough is enough. I think the public is tired of watching elected officials waste money on items such as the Bridge to Nowhere. I think the time for fiscal accountability is now.
So where does that leave the Galva School Board? At the Nov. 15 school board meeting, the results of last year’s financial audit were presented by the district’s auditor. In addition to the fact that we had more expenses than revenue last year, he noted that salaries account for 75 percent of the district’s expenses.
That tells me that no matter how much fuel we try to save or how little we spend on textbooks, the only dramatic changes we can make to our bottom line is in the area of payroll.
If my interpretation of the election results is accurate, and the American public is developing a fiscal conscience, then it tells me that they are becoming more serious about a balanced budget for local government also. The budget can be balanced by increasing income, decreasing expenses or both.
Since I doubt the State of Illinois will suddenly bombard the district with money, I am left to assume that we must increase our local tax base or look to more reductions in payroll. Neither of those are options that will help school board members get re-elected. But if getting elected is a higher priority than doing the right thing, we would be working in Washington D.C., not Galva, Ill.
