Abbott Districts and Your Money

Let’s see how many things are wrong with this scenario.

  • The state’s budget has doubled in the last six years.
  • Property taxes are running wild to pay for the huge increases in the budget.
  • Governor Corzine instead of cutting spending, has slowed down the increase in spending and expects us to accept that.
  • Abbott districts were given a three percent increase in state funds this year.
  • Abbott districts protested and countered for four percent.
  • According to this article, the state said take three percent and drop the appeal or we’ll scrutinize the audit.

“At the end she said, ‘Now we’ll offer you 3 percent and we won’t look at the audit, you won’t have to answer any questions about your budget, it will be approved,’” Parker recalled. “‘However, if you raise a question, if you ask for more than 3 percent, we’re going to then examine every line in your budget and we’re going to look at the details and all the information we get from the auditors, and we will look at your budget with a fine-tooth comb.

Come again.

Audits are completed to ensure the taxpayers’ money is being spent wisely. The state has indicated it will disregard those audits. Oh my . . . Why complete them to begin with if they will never be looked at?

Yet, most Abbott districts caved at the threat. That is telling. Why would a district be concerned at an auditor’s scrutiny? Is it because there is something to hide? There certainly should not be. School districts should welcome a hard audit. Perhaps the state can find ill-spent money that will fund those programs districts always clamor they need.

Folks, this is the public’s money. This isn’t the IRS investigating your tax return. Taxpayers should want auditors poring over these budgets. And school districts should welcome professional eyes to assist them in becoming more efficient. Isn’t that a goal?

Dear reader, this is alarming. Abbott districts tried to strongarm our state for more money and when called on it, they backed away unable to defend their requests. They wanted to protect that pile of cash that cannot stand the scrutiny of prying eyes.

You actually have a say about this on 17 April.

Also blogged on this date . . .

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